Re: Weeding print periodicals Dietsch.Barbara@EPA.GOV 24 Jul 2008 15:18 UTC
No, we have open stacks. We have "trained" our patrons through signs and verbal feedback to not reshelve and place the journals on a reshelving cart instead. There is also a cart by the photocopier where patrons tend to leave them anyway. We then collect usage statistics. It's not perfect, but it's better than nothing. We provide photocopy service for our researchers so it's easy to take stats on those journals. We used to have a notebook with all titles/all years and would make tally marks by the appropriate title/year. Now we collect the same stats but by spreadsheet via the computer. It has formulas so it automatically has current totals for all titles/years. Makes it extremely easy to collect the final print statistics at year's end. It does take a commitment to set up the notebooks/spreadsheet and follow through with staff and patrons. Hope that helps. Barb barb dietsch | serials coordinator epa library | unc contract staff 109 alexander drive | mail code c267-01 research triangle park, nc 27711 phone: 919.541.0726 fax: 919.541.1405 dietsch.barbara@epa.gov Wilma Dague <wdague@BENEDICT INE.EDU> To Sent by: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU "SERIALST: cc Serials in Libraries Subject Discussion Re: [SERIALST] Weeding print Forum" periodicals <SERIALST@list.u vm.edu> 07/24/2008 09:37 AM Please respond to "SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum" <SERIALST@list.u vm.edu> Barb, Do you have closed stacks? Otherwise, how would you know what's being used? Best regards, Wilma Weant Dague Serials Coordinator Benedictine College Library 1020 North 2nd St. Atchison, KS 66002 (913) 360-7610 wdague@benedictine.edu -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Dietsch.Barbara@EPA.GOV Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 8:17 AM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Weeding print periodicals Hi Sarah, I would recommend starting to collect usage statistics for all titles (back years included) as soon as possible. I have been able to weed back issues and inactive titles that weren't being used based on the usage statistics. I too have to justify weeding recommendations and having statistical documentation really helps when making weeding decisions. Keeping statistics on active titles only helps with purchasing decisions. Purchasing and weeding are two distinct serials collection management functions. Barb barb dietsch | serials coordinator epa library | unc contract staff 109 alexander drive | mail code c267-01 research triangle park, nc 27711 phone: 919.541.0726 fax: 919.541.1405 dietsch.barbara@epa.gov Sarah Sanford <ssanford@GUSTAV US.EDU> To Sent by: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU "SERIALST: cc Serials in Libraries Subject Discussion [SERIALST] Weeding print Forum" periodicals <SERIALST@list.u vm.edu> 07/23/2008 03:55 PM Please respond to "SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum" <SERIALST@list.u vm.edu> I need professional weeding/shifting advice! We are a small academic library with approximately 1000 active print journals. Last summer we finished shifting the entire periodicals collection, leaving 5 years of growth for all active titles. In many cases, we had to use the bottom shelf because of space concerns--which means in less than 5 years we will be at full capacity. I am not a librarian but I am the manager of the periodicals department. All weeding has to be approved by the librarians. What suggestions do you have to 1) create space in the collection and 2) help facilitate a weeding project? One idea is to document all the titles which have short runs (1-10 years) and are older than 1990 and see if I can weed these. What we can't get through ILL we would likely keep. We keep usage stats but only on active titles. We already have a number of titles on a retention cycle (JSTOR, etc.) and we substitute online for print where it is cost effective. I don't work directly with departments and have no idea which titles we need to keep for 50 years and which we only need to keep for 5. Weeding the periodicals collection will not be a priority for the librarians, but it's one we have to do to create space. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help. -- Sarah Monson Serials Manager Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library Gustavus Adolphus College St. Peter, MN 56082 Phone: 507-933-7562 Fax: 507-933-6292 What I'm reading: The Language Instinct by Steven Pinker