----------(1) >From ppicerno@choctaw.astate.edu Wed Mar 22 15:26:23 2000 Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 10:15:57 -0600 From: Peter Picerno <ppicerno@choctaw.astate.edu> Subject: Re: Serials module to kardex (Diane Lewis) I would reply that this, and the other discussion, affirms the fact that the main benefit of *any* ILS is to the end-user -- ie., our patrons! What we are faced with is coming to the realization that the benefits of communication (in terms of library holdings, in this instance) are very great -- no doubt ILL, distance-ed students, faculty who are agoraphobic, and others who cannot physically rummage through our shelves can now do so in a virtual way. The cost, and I use this term with caution because it is real, for this extra service and accessibility is an increase in staff time as well as the cost of the ILS itself. I find, however, that too many advocates for library budgets forget to factor these costs into their requests, and, coupled with the fact that some administrators are under the delusion that everything virtual or electronic is paid for with virtual monies (i.e., it's on the net therefore it's free), we have to pay the price for extra services by having to sometimes actually cut the costs of our materials acquisition budgets. It would be nice if those in positions of authority (in terms of budgeting) were aware that these extra services which are demanded as 'normal' simply eat up more cash than they did before libraries offered them. In order to make this case we would have to affirm that (a) most electronic and technology is more costly than it's print or pre-technological counterparts, (b) if budgets have not risen in tandem with the incurrence of these costs, we have actually, in some instances, had to offer less information (read: service) in other ways and areas, and (c) libraries are now doing at least three more things than they did before computerization, yet few libraries have seen corresponding increases in operating or personnel budgets. End of sermon! P Picerno [Original message] The posters to this discussion who wrote paeans to the efficiency of automated checkin as opposed to manual must work in libraries only receiving consistently regular, easily predictable serial titles. When we initially migrated to our present powerful and sophisticated ILS from a standalone serials system and a Kardex, the serials staff were gung-ho to get every title set up for online checkin. I hemmed and hawed, reluctant to jump into the beckoning waters. At the staff's request, we switched some titles back to manual checkin, because prediction was so difficult. Now we have about 7,000 titles set up and checkin does go pretty quickly. However, title changes, irregular series, and the resultant setup work consume much more time than when we just changed the title on a card and made brief notes. Please don't get me wrong--I celebrate the benefits of an integrated serials system. It is gratifying to be able to provide a remote user with up-to-the-minute serials information. Or print an on-demand, customized list of current serial titles. I just would caution that automation requires beaucoup more staff time devoted to data input and manipulation. Diane M. Lewis Serial Records Librarian U.S. Geological Survey Library National Center--MS 950 Reston, Virginia 20192 phone: (703)648-4399 fax: (703)648-6376 "Intelligence, not perhaps at its highest level, but far beyond the sheer emotionalism of TV, has found its refuge in the newspapers."--Robertson Davies ----------(2) >From dharrell@westga.edu Wed Mar 22 15:26:23 2000 Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 11:32:37 -0500 (EST) From: Deborah Harrell <dharrell@westga.edu> Subject: Re: Serials module to kardex (Diane Lewis) I would heartily agreee that there is no way I would go back to a Kardex, but when automation of library services first emerged (early 1980s?) it was said to make life much easier for those of us in technical services. That has certainly been a lie. I just spent the last 1 1/2 hours getting a specific title's prediction set up. Multiply that by number of non-standard titles and I could have checked in hundreds on a Kardex in the same time. The real time expense is in setting up the records. For the most part, after a title is set up correctly, checkins flow smoothly. (We automated serials in 1992 and migrated to a new system last November.) Weigh the differences. If you are using a Kardex and don't already have an ILS, you might want to wait. But if you already have an ILS and it works well, going back to non-automation of serials might not produce the desired results in service to your patrons. Debbie Harrell Ingram Library, State University of West Georgia phone: 770-836-6498 fax: 770-836-6626 ----------(3) >From chobot@PLAINS.NODAK.EDU Wed Mar 22 15:26:23 2000 Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 10:30:50 -0600 From: Karen Chobot <chobot@PLAINS.NODAK.EDU> Subject: Re: Serials module to kardex (Diane Lewis) At 10:48 AM 03/22/2000 -0500, you wrote: >The posters to this discussion who wrote paeans to the efficiency >of automated checkin as opposed to manual must work in libraries >only receiving consistently regular, easily predictable serial titles. > Sorry to disappoint you, but of course you have to know that couldn't possibly be true. I think my point that I made in the beginning response is the most important one - that adjusting your work flow and procedures to take into account the fact that things WILL have problems is the most important aspect of working with either paper or computer. What we *do* have is a very good serials module, PALS, that can accomodate a good variety of types and problems. Our consortium needs to migrate, and we are having trouble finding a serials module that is as flexible. In any case, I still would not want to go back to paper, because I believe that on the whole, a computerized module does the most amount of work in the fastest possible way. It is not true for every piece of the work, but there are always trade offs. And as several other people pointed out, you find it possible to do some things you simply never would do if all you had was the kardex. This to be what allows us to give excellent service all the way around. 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 "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of daily life." Sherlock Holmes, in "The Red-Headed League."
