At the University of Maryland, College Park, we have just begun tracking
our in-house periodical usage for bound and unbound titles.  We have
been barcoding our bound volumes for years and underwent a retrospective
conversion about ten years ago that barcoded whatever hadn't been done
up to then.  With the move to a new ILS, we finally had the technical
capability to capture these statistics mechanically by scanning
barcodes.  The problem was in tracking the unbound issues.  We ran a
report off our system for the titles (about 6,000) held in periodical
locations, assigned barcodes to each title and then placed the barcodes
on movable labels on the loose issue shelves.   Using hand-held scanners
(like the ones used in grocery stores), our shelvers scan the barcodes
every time they replace issues on the shelves.  Bound volumes are
scanned the same way.  This involved a great deal of work to set up, as
you might guess.   We have 6 different libraries here on campus.  A lot
of people worked together to make the project a success.  We began
scanning on September 27 and so have just over a full month's worth of
data.   We are still refining how we want the data to print out on
reports.  Our dean wants to expand this project to scan all the
libraries' barcoded materials.  We have begun a pilot project with two
of our smaller libraries to see how scanning everything would affect
workflows.

Jan Siar
University of Maryland
College Park, MD
SERIALST Moderator wrote:

>2 messages, 74 lines:
>
>(1)-------------------
>Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 11:29:56 -0700
>From: "Carol Morse" <MorsCa@wwc.edu>
>To: <SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU>
>Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Tracking Periodicals
>
>We use an old-fashioned, low-tech method. Every term we print out a list
>of microforms and periodicals in the stacks (not the ones in storage)
>with spaces between each title and put it in a 3-ring binder. The
>students pick up every couple of hours and come and mark slashes for
>each title. At the end of the quarter we put the stats into an Excel
>file. It has proved very helpful in deciding what to cancel. This
>process was started in the early 90's before I came, and I have been
>very grateful for it. We are a relatively small college (1800 students).
>I realize this would be too cumbersome a process for a large library. We
>don't barcode everything, either, to save money. We count bound as one.
>
>Hope this helps.
>Carol Morse
>
>(2)-------------------
>Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 15:25:43 -0400
>From: Carrie Eastman <ceastman@wheelock.edu>
>Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Tracking Periodicals
>
>I have just started periodical usage statistics as of June 2004 and simply
>keep the data in an Excel spreadsheet.  Of course this all depends on how
>large your collection is.  I simply enter the Title, year (or range if
>several years are bound together, the barcode, and who is using it (i.e.
>ILL,  On-Site, or Staff).  Most of our bound journals were barcoded, but not
>all, before I came here (stats are a good way to find out what still needs
>to be done) and I believe it was done with the intention of getting a better
>handle on knowing our inventory and maintaining it in the future.  I count
>the bound periodicals as one item (especially if they are already barcoded),
>but in general I am focusing just on the title, year of publication and who
>my user is.  I currently I am not focusing on number of times used.  I guess
>it is important to establish what you want to know from your statistics,
>right now I really only want to know what is being used and by whom do that
>our Serials Committee can get a better idea of what is being used so we can
>decide if we are going to continue subscribing to them or not.  Hope this
>helps.
>
>C. Eastman
>Wheelock College Library
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Morris, Monique C" <Monique.Morris@LSC.VSC.EDU>
>To: <SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU>
>Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 1:06 PM
>Subject: [SERIALST] Tracking Periodicals
>
>
>
>
>>We want to track our periodical use.  Our periodicals do not circulate
>>or leave the building, so we do not have barcodes on our collection.  We
>>are interested in hearing from others who are keeping track of their
>>print and microform collections.
>>How do you do it?  Do you use barcodes and roll-o-dex cards?  Or do you
>>use a database or software? Do you count the bound periodicals as one
>>item or as the amount of actual magazines that are bound?
>>
>>Thank you for any information you can supply.
>>
>>--------------------------------------
>>Monique Morris
>>Lyndon State College
>>Samuel Read Hall Library
>>1001 College Rd.
>>Lyndonville, VT 05851-0919
>>
>>(802)626-6364
>>(802)626-4807 fax
>>Monique.Morris@lsc.vsc.edu
>>
>>
>
>
>

--
Janet Siar
Acquisitions Dept.
McKeldin Library
University of MD
College Park, MD  20742

Phone 301-405-9308
Fax   301-314-1200
email jsiar@umd.edu