Jacqueline,

     Currently,  we shelve a serial title and any subsequent title
     changes together,  maintaining the same call number. (Splits,
     mergers, etc. are another story.)  In the past we've found that
     patrons prefer all issues of a serial to be shelved together--they
     don't always keep up with title changes!

     Since we arrange our bound periodicals on the shelf by call number,
     rather than title order,  this method works well for us.  Patrons
     usually have to look at the OPAC record for a title in order to
     find the location of a specific volume (bound, microfilm, reserve
     desk, etc.),  and are trained to always use the call number to find
     the actual volume within the library.  If a patron were browsing in
     the Bound Periodical section,  they would soon realize that the
     periodicals were arranged by subject area,  and eventually find all
     titles within a given subject area.

     Would the size of your serials collection be a factor in your
     decision?

          Marcia Trauernicht
          Head of Cataloging
          Wallace Library
          Rochester Institute of Technology
          90 Lomb Memorial Drive
          Rochester, NY  14623-5604
          (716) 475-7292
          FAX (716) 475-6490
          mstwml@rit.edu