The following is a summary of the responses I received to my 3/26/15 posting to SERIALST ‘Tracking print journal usage’. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your insights.

1.)                Use of a binder: Kristine L. Sekely of Central Pennsylvania’s Community College and Abbigail Stauber of Geneva College both use a binder containing a listing of each print title and a barcode for that title, which is updated annually.  Before a journal is reshelved, the circulation staff scans the barcode.  Kristine states that signs are posted asking students not to reshelve journals themselves.

2.)                Automated tracking of bound print journals: Steve Osberg of Wheaton College (IL) tracked unbound print journals using paper, pen and tick marks until a year ago. They no longer track unbound print journals. Bound journals needing to be reshelved are picked up by Circulation students and discharged in their system (Voyager) allowing them to extract system reports on browse counts for these bound print volumes. This is the only print journal usage information reported annually.

3.)                Use of signage, plus manual tracking (paper, pen, tick marks): Kristi Thompson of the Bureau of Reclamation Library (Denver); Teresa Imfeld of Warren Wilson College; Jeanette Skwor from Cofrin Library.

a.       Kristi mentions the possibility of using tick marks, barcodes with scanning and signage, plus the use of EOS for their ILS system which can track in-house usage that displays inside each journal title record.

b.      Teresa has noticed improved statistics with the use of signs near their reshelve boxes and journal display which state:

"Your FAVORITE magazine

might get CANCELLED

If we do not know it is being READ . . .

Teresa further uses a message (in smaller print) telling patrons the importance of collecting statistics from the magazines left in the "reshelve" boxes.

c.       Jeanette indicated that she uses the same method that we use at Johnson & Wales University.

4.)                Using ILL (Document Delivery of local copies): Angie Rathmel of the University of Kansas mentioned that presenters at an ACRL meeting discussed the use of ILL (Document Delivery of local copies) as an indicator of print journal usage.

5.)                Use of a date stamp label, plus circulation statistics: Brad Golod of Sahara West Adult Services has staff place a blank date stamp label on the back of each journal. This label is stamped with each re-shelving, with each date stamp representing usage. Brad combines this in-house usage with circulation statistics (available from item records) on a spreadsheet which he uses to determine print journal usage, which in turn is used to make cancelation decisions. See Brad’s original email on 3/26 for a copy of this spreadsheet.

6.)                Use of adhesive ‘dots’ and signage: Pamela O’Brien at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has used adhesive dots to track usage in the past. Each journal checked in was given a dot adhering to the front and back covers of the journal, creating a small seal along the open edge.  Patrons had to break the seal to use the journal. The library also posted notices in the Browsing Area letting patrons know it was a tracking survey, which stated “Don’t let the dots stop you!” and showed dot figures talking. This was done for 3 months of one year, and again during a different 3 month period the next year. Pamela’s library used this method to determine cancelations.

Feel free to let me know if I did not accurately summarize your suggestions, or if I inadvertently missed someone. Thanks again for all of these responses.

Brenda Keane

Library Serials Clerk

Johnson & Wales University

8 Abbott Park Place

Yena Center

Providence, RI 02903

401-598-1459

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