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Re: Periodicals shelving arrangement changed from title to call number -- 3 messages SERIALST Moderator 30 Jul 2003 15:55 UTC

3 messages, 128 lines:

(1)-------------------
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 08:07:57 -0700
From: Sheila Corman <scorman@sdcll.org>
Subject: Re: Periodicals shelving arrangement changed from title to call number

Shirley-

    We shelve all our periodicals by call number. The shelvers don't have
a problem with it since we put the call number on each issue. The majority
of them are still actually in title order since the classification system
in the "k" area (and we're a law library) works that way.

     The only problem patrons have is when they try to browse the shelf.
If there has been a title change we maintain the original call number. An
example: The San Diego County Bar Association journal used to be called
"Dicta" and the journal is classified by that call number. It is now
called "San Diego lawyer", but is shelved next to Dicta.

     That confuses patrons who don't know the system.

Sheila
__________________________________
Sheila Corman    (619)531-4448
Cataloging Department   (619)238-7716 (fax)
San Diego County Public Law Library scorman@sdcll.org
http://www.sdcll.org

(2)-------------------
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 10:33:08 -0500
From: "Bolton, Karen" <bolton@msoe.edu>
Subject: RE: Periodicals shelving arrangement changed from title to call number

Hi Shirley,

About five years ago we made this same change.  Up until that time, we had
closed stacks, with a student staffing the periodicals area; patrons
requested titles, and a student ran and retrieved then reshelved the
periodical.

When we opened up the stacks, we decided to reorganize by call number, as
well.  What we did first was look at all our records to make sure there
WAS a lc call number for them.  There is, in many cases, but if not, you
have to put one in the record, in the 090.  Then, you need to make call
number labels for all of the bound volumes, and put them on.  Then, you
have to put them all back in lc order.  We installed compact shelving for
half of our periodicals at the same time so we had all of them on ledges,
study carrels and tables for several months (obviously, a summer job). It
was a lot of work, but worth it, because subject-related things are closer
together for the most part; with title changes, you can keep the same call
number and patrons aren't looking all over the place for a successive
title, and it is what most faculty members are used to.

I still have an alphabetical frame of mind, though, so when I am working
with an alphabetical list, say of titles offered on DEU or working on
bindery stuff, I have to look up call numbers sometimes.  Our collection
is small enough that often I know where things are (though, if you are
used to it alphabetical, it is a switch to go the other way and it will
take you a little while to relearn.)

I wouldn't say it made any difference in staffing, once you have it done,
but you might need a couple of student workers to do the shifting and
putting on the labels, to start with. Also you need a little patience
because it takes awhile to do all this.

Good luck.

Karen Bolton
Serials Librarian
bolton@msoe.edu

Milwaukee School of Engineering
Walter Schroeder Library
1025 N. Broadway
Milwaukee, WI
53202-3109

(3)-------------------
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 09:04:08 -0500
From: "Skwor, Jeanette" <skworj@uwgb.edu>
Subject: RE: Periodicals shelving arrangement changed from title to call number

***I would love to hear the responses to this also.

Jeanette L. Skwor
Cofrin Library, Serials Dept.
University of WI - Green Bay
2420 Nicolet Drive
Green Bay, WI 54311-7001
(920) 465-2670

-----Original Message-----
From: Shirley Lin [mailto:linh@OIT.EDU]
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 4:06 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Periodicals shelving arrangement changed from title to call
number

Oregon Institute of Technology is reviewing our current shelving
arrangement, which is alphabetically by title. My supervisor would like to
change our current shelving system; she would prefer the periodicals (Bound
and current issues) shelved by LC Call Number rather than title.

I would like to know if any of your libraries have re-shelved periodicals
from title to classification number and what impact that change had on
staffing requirements. I would also appreciated any information form
libraries that shelve by call number on the advantages or disadvantages of
shelving that way.

Any comments, advise would be greatly appreciated.

Please send any responses to me: linh@oit.edu

Thank you.

Shirley (Hsiu-Ling) Lin
Technical Services Supervisor
Library
Oregon Institute of Technology
3201 Campus Dr.
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
email: linh@oit.edu
Tel:(541)885-1780
Fax:(541)885-1777