Re: Title Changes and shelving -- 2 messages Stephen D. Clark 07 Feb 2000 19:38 UTC

2 messages:

1)---------------------------------

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Title Changes and shelving -- Christina Liggins
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 12:31:56 -0400
From: David Goodman <dgoodman@princeton.edu>
Reply-To: dgoodman@princeton.edu
Organization: Princeton University Biology Library

This insoluble dilemma has led some libraries to shelving by call
number; that
way, at least shelving is unambiguous. Of course, it means that none of
the
patrons can directly access any part of the title on the shelves. To me
that
amounts to solving the problem by making it worse for all the users. It
depends on whether you care more about the users or the shelvers.

--
David Goodman
Biology Librarian, and
Co-Chair, Electronic Journals Task Force
Princeton University Library
dgoodman@princeton.edu         http://www.princeton.edu/~biolib/
phone: 609-258-3235            fax: 609-258-2627

2)---------------------------------
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Title Changes and shelving -- Christina Liggins
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 13:03:49 -0600
From: Karen Chobot <chobot@plains.nodak.edu>

As another medium sized library, I have found that shelving everything
under the correct title is the best way to go in an alphabetical
situation.
 Most of the time patrons are not aware of earlier titles and only have
the
current citation to go on.  Sometimes it makes things a little odd, such
as
the variations of Atlantic and Atlantic Monthly, and then I do keep them
in
sequence.  But most of the time we shelve by exact title.  If there
seems
any need to indicate a relation ship, we use dummy boxes to fill in a
space
and send patrons to another title.  (Such as TDR See: The Drama
Review.)  I
also keep a printout of current titles, and a note in that indicates
earlier or later title changes.

We have just under 1000 titles, and this seems to work quite well.
People
who are regular readers of a title usually are aware of changes, in any
case, and the current title seems to be best for all searchers.

Karen Chobot

>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Title Changes and shelving
> Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 10:17:03 -0500
> From: Christina Liggins <cliggins@CHC.EDU>
>
> We are a medium-sized academic library and we shleve our journals in
> alphabetical order.  I have a very basic question that has probably been
> discussed on this list before, so forgive me for this, but:
>
> When a journal undergoes a title change, do patrons seem to find it
> easier
> to retrieve a title when the title is shelved WITH the current title, or
> shelved in its own alphabetically-correct spot?  For example, does
> shelving
> "Books Abroad" with its more current title "World Literature Today" make
> retrieval more difficult for the patron?  Does it make life more
> difficult
> for shelvers?  Have there been any studies in this area?
>
> Shelving old and new titles together, with directional (cross-reference)
> signage might be the way to go, however, that is alot of signage!  The
> journals holdings list would, of course, map out the title-change
> history
> of each journal.
>
> Thanks in advance to everyone for any input on this matter.
>
> Christina Liggins,
> Serials Librarian
> Chestnut Hill College
> Philadelphia, PA

Karen M. Chobot, MS, MLS
Reference/Serials Librarian
Mildred Johnson Library
North Dakota State College of Science
800 N. 6th St.
Wahpeton ND 58076
701/671-2385