Here is what I do. I use the Serials Solutions A-to-Z list. When we first got it, I found that it was going to be nearly impossible to extract our holdings out of our library catalog because our holdings statements are in free text and not uniform. So I elected to just extract the titles, and have the titles be linked to our library catalog. This has worked out pretty well. The entry looks like this:

Mind over matter (0026-4458)    Look up Article    More full text options     
in duPont Library's Print and Microform Collections  Click to view which issues the library has on hand.

The link brings up the holdings display for that particular title. (We have print and microfilm holdings on the same bib record.)

I do the extraction process to create a new file about two or three times a year, and this takes care of the new titles, withdrawn titles, and title changes. This might not be frequent enough for your needs. I would do it more often if I could get a cleaner file out of our library system, but I have to do quite a bit of deduping and "massaging" of the file in Excel before I can upload it.  This method seems to work for us.

This doesn't address the OCLC updates at all, but I don't handle those or actually do the library catalog updates myself. I just thought I'd share a possible way to reduce the places you have to update.

Pat Thompson

Patricia R. Thompson
Assistant University Librarian for Resource Management Services
duPont Library
University of the South
Sewanee, TN 37383
931-598-1657
pthompso@sewanee.edu



At 02:05 PM 10/8/2009, Laura Vogler wrote:
Hello,

I would be curious to know what methods you use to keep your print serials holdings up-to-date.  I find that I am updating our local catalog (Aleph), OCLC local holdings and our EBSCO A-to-Z list.  There has to be a more efficient way to do this.  If you would like to share your methods for streamlining the process, I would love to read about it.

Thanks,
Laura

--
 
 
Laura Vogler
Serials Manager
Electronic Resources Assistant
Wabash College Lilly Library
301 W Wabash Ave, PO Box 352
Crawfordsville, IN  47933

Phone:  (765) 361-6215
Fax:      (765) 361-6295

http://www.wabash.edu/library