Thanks Zac, I really find unsolicited issues to be one of the many minor aggravations of Library Land.  Like other libraries, we create bibliographic records, then suppress the record from public view, all so we can then note "DISCARD."   For the most part, you are absolutely right-- periodicals represent a long-term commitment to a discipline or program, and I field enough requests for new periodicals from faculty, where I have to explain why we cannot afford to add new titles without finding new money or cancelling another title in their discipline.  If it is an important journal, demand by faculty and/or library liaisons will bring it to our attention; also, in my experience if the library received a sample copy, then so did the department and faculty concerned, sort of like multiple issues of catalogs, unsolicited journals asexually reproduce in the mailroom.

However, I'm a *librarian* so we do indeed have a process, and it does involve creating records, and sending copies to liaisons, etc.  But I'd prefer to go directly to recycling.....

I forwarded this thread to my library assistant in charge of handling unsolicited journals because I suspect she has always thought that only our library was crazy enough to go through this process, simply because someone we don't know sent us something we didn't ask for.

Patricia Pettijohn
Head, Collection & Technical Services
Nelson Poynter Memorial Library
University of South Florida St. Petersburg
140 7th Ave. South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-553-4407
ppettijohn@nelson.usf.edu

So the America I loved still exists, if not in the White House or the Supreme Court or the Senate or the House of Representatives or the media.
The America I love still exists at the front desks of our public libraries.
~ Kurt Vonnegut August 11, 2004

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Zac Rolnik
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 3:59 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Handling of Sample Issues

This may seem like sacrilege to the publishers on this list, but I am
actually surprised that publishers send out unsolicited sample copies.  In
my more than 20 years of publishing, I have never sent an unsolicited sample
copy to a library. I have always been under the impression that if a library
were interested, or if a faculty member or student recommended a journal,
they would request a sample copy from the publisher or subscribe if there
were sufficient demand and budget.

Further to Bill's question, I do provide librarians with links to a free
"electronic" sample copy if requested or if I think there may be some
interest but not in any wholesale manner.  As a matter of fact, we no longer
send out print sample copies unless the print is explicitly requested.  If I
have been too modest in my distribution of unsolicited sample copies, please
let me know.

Thanks.

Zac

Zac Rolnik
Publisher
now -- the essence of knowledge
PO Box 1024
Hanover, MA 02339 USA
t: +1-781-871-0245
f: +1-781-871-6172
m: +1-781-985-4510
em.  zac.rolnik@nowpublishers.com
www.nowpublishers.com

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Bill Cohen
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 11:33 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Handling of Sample Issues

What do librarians think of "electronic" sample copies?

- Bill

Bill Cohen, /Publisher  /
The Haworth Press
[Taylor & Francis Group]
www.HaworthPress.com

Pennington, Buddy D. wrote:
> When I started at UMKC, we had shelves and shelves of sample issues.
> I took a look at them and when I found single issues from the 1980s I
> decided to weed the whole bunch.  Just about everything went into the
> recycle pile.
>
> Now, we use our "samples" collection only as a means to identify
> potential gift subscriptions, title changes, or new titles that are
> included with another subscription.
>
> When the checkin assistant can't find a title it goes on a shelf.
> Once a week, I grab those and either create a "discard" checkin record
> (if the title does not look like it has much potential" or a "samples"
> checkin record.  We use Innovative and have templates set up so
> creating one of these records takes all of 30 seconds.  That way the
> checkin assistant then knows what to do with the next issue that
> arrives, if there is one. NOTE: we do not check any actual issues in.
> The checkins are basically blank records with a note that says to
> either stick the issue in samples or on the recycle pile.
>
> Once per year, we scan the samples shelf to see what can be tossed
> (single issues, etc.).  When we get enough issues of a title that we
> feel comfortable that it is something we will continue to get, I then
> take it to the subject selector to determine if it is a title worth
> adding or if the samples checkin for that title needs to become a
> discard checking.
>
>
>
> Buddy Pennington
> Serial Acquisitions Librarian
> University of Missouri - Kansas City
> University Libraries
> 800 East 51st Street
> Kansas City, MO  64110
> 816-235-1548
> 816-333-5584 (fax)
> penningtonb@umkc.edu
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
> [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Ann E Miller
> Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 8:20 AM
> To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
> Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Handling of Sample Issues
>
> I would also be very interested in any responses as well.  We're
> struggling with the same "issue" over here at Duke.
>
> Ann
>
> **************************************************************
> Ann E. Miller
> Head, Electronic Resources & Serials Management Perkins Library
> Duke University                         "Changed  Priorities Ahead"
> Durham, NC  27708-0177                         Scottish Roadsign
> phone: 919.660.5855
> fax:919.668.3134
> email:ann.e.miller@duke.edu
>
>
>
> "Janet L. Flowers" <jflowers@EMAIL.UNC.EDU> Sent by: "SERIALST:
> Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum"
> <SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU>
> 11/14/2007 09:06 PM
> Please respond to
> "SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum"
> <SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU>
>
>
> To
> SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
> cc
>
> Subject
> [SERIALST] Handling of Sample Issues
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Colleagues
> We are looking to simplify or eliminate the steps related to sample
> issues that arrive unsolicited in our department.  So, I would be very
> interested to know how other --especially large research--libraries
>
> handle this issue.
> Thank you in advance for your perspectives.
> Sincerely,
> Janet
>
>

--

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