Re: Policy on dealing with defaced serials at academic libraries? Bill Osment 25 Oct 2004 22:13 UTC
I concur with Buddy about this. No way is it censorship. I assumed Buddy's former position as Serials Librarian here at Kansas City Public Library, and we both know there are titles at risk if you just put them on shelf, especially the most recent ones. They are going to either disappear or be defaced if you put them into the open shelves. We keep the most recent issue of 30 different titles secured behind the Reference desk. If somebody wants to read them, they must leave a valid library card or picture ID with us. After the next issue of a title arrives, we put out on display in the open shelving. And we still have problems with this. Bill Osment Periodicals/Reference Librarian Kansas City Missouri Public Library ________________________________ From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum on behalf of Pennington, Buddy D. Sent: Mon 10/25/2004 9:06 AM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Policy on dealing with defaced serials at academic libraries? I disagree that keeping something behind a desk is censorship. Inconvenient access is not censorship. Is it censorship when the library closes at 10PM or is not open on Sundays? The customer service issues are something to wrestle with, but I don't think we need to be couching it within the context of censorship. The library is still subscribing to the title and it is still accessible to users. Buddy Pennington Serials Acquisitions Librarian UMKC - University Libraries 800 E. 51st Street Kansas City, MO 64110 816-235-1548 816-333-5584 (fax) penningtonb@umkc.edu UMKC University Libraries: Connecting Learners to the World of Knowledge www.umkc.edu/lib -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Simpson, Sarah Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 12:45 PM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Policy on dealing with defaced serials at academic libraries? We do keep certain titles behind the desk and have people ask for them, but I do tend to agree it is a form of censorship - I know that I wouldn't usually take the extra step to look at the magazine, especially if there was a line at the desk. I'm sure that a lot of people just decide not to bother if it isn't right there where they can get it. Censorship by inconvenience? We certainly mean to do the exact opposite of censoring by making sure it is available when wanted, but I think it often has the opposite effect of keeping people from reading the title. It's a frustrating situation. Sarah Simpson Tulsa City-County Library -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Carol Morse Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 12:34 PM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Policy on dealing with defaced serials at academic libraries? We would tend to put those kinds of titles on reserve. That protects the current issue, but not the others. I don't consider it censorship. There is a 2-hour check-out period for everyone. They are less likely to deface when they have to turn it in in 2 hours. I have put 2 runs of titles that tended to "walk" on permanent reserve and the current year of others that are very popular. Think of it as preserving good access for everyone. Carol Morse ******************************************** Address: Walla Walla College Library Periodicals Dept. 104 S. College Ave. College Place, WA 99324-1159 Carol Morse Serials Librarian morsca@wwc.edu 509) 527-2684; fax 509) 527-2001 ********************************************* >>> cwilson@MMM.EDU 10/22/2004 9:59:23 AM >>> Dear serialists: Here's a nice discussion topic for a Friday... I am wondering if any of you have a policy on how to deal with patrons who deface or damage serials, particularly those of a politically sensitive nature. It was just brought to my attention that someone found a copy of the Advocate in our library with the word 'nasty' scribbled on the cover. I have also previously noticed copies of Ms., Rolling Stone, etc. with missing pages or photos. It's obviously difficult to punish patrons who deface materials unless you catch them in the act, so what are our options? Some libraries(especially public) may put popular or readily-vandalized magazines behind the desk, but this brings up censorship issues. Any ideas? Thanks in advance for your input, Kunchog Dolma ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~ Kunchog J. Dolma, MA, MLISc Serials/Reference Librarian Thomas J. Shanahan Library Marymount Manhattan College 221 E. 71st St. New York, NY 10025 (212)774-4807