----------(1) >From chobot@PLAINS.NODAK.EDU Tue Mar 21 10:43:07 2000 Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 08:52:22 -0600 From: Karen Chobot <chobot@PLAINS.NODAK.EDU> Subject: Re: Serials module to kardex (Rachel Hollis) Hi - I hope that you will take a long look at what you actually do on the serials module before considering any change back to paper records. I personally never would go back, and I seriously doubt that you will save any time whatsoever. Initially, our library spent a great deal of time setting up the serials records, predicting patterns, transferring all notes, and so on. We hired extra student help one summer in order to get all issues barcoded transferred, and it took us another 3 or so years to verify and clear everything before we got rid of the kardex. However, I feel that now the system takes care of itself quite nicely and everything flows well. Claims and reports are infinitely faster. I would suggest that you first look at your work flow and procedures to see where streamlining and improving could be done. In particular, you mention that check-in takes twice as long. My experience is that we take about half the time to check in most issues. The problems and snags that need fixing are set aside and handled individually, and that brings the average time to about the same as kardex check-in. Add in that you get superior information for catching problems, pulling items that are routed, or anything additional, and I am still convinced the module is mora efficient. I would also suspect you are not using any of the other features to their fullest capabilities. I can pull circulation reports, binding reports, and a whole variety of other things. Every time I decide I need a new report - which I just did last month for some decision making - I spend an afternoon with the report writer getting it set up. From now on, that new report will come automatically. I never have to think about doing it again. And every time I set up a report, I think of another way to use it, as well. My collection development is improving! Also a major consideration for us is that the serials module is integrated with the OPAC. It is possible to see the serials information from any computer, and this sharing online is essential for the students and patrons to look at. The kardex is available - and understandable - only to the library staff. If you don't want to share this information with the patrons, and they don't care about it, why do you even buy periodicals? Certainly, the patrons want to know and will be much happier if they can look it up via the OPAC, particularly when they are not in the library. For me the bottom line is that the conveniences and time saving factors of the majority of the use of the serials module more than overwhelms any individual instances of greater time use. (An example of this is fixing the prediction patterns every time the periodical alters its publication rate, changes a title, or any of those wierd periodical decisions publishers make.) Add to that the greater convenience for the patron, and I think there is no argument on behalf of paper records. If there are features to your module that don't work well or need fixing, participate in the user group for your system and work to get those improved. If serials librarians don't ask, no one knows what we need! I will be very interested to see if anyone has gone back to the kardex and what their reasoning is. Personally, I would fight to keep the module for the very reasons you are saying they want to go - saves time, works more efficiently, keeps track of all information much more accurately. And lets the patron know instantly what the status of any periodical is. Good luck with your decision making. Karen. 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." ----------(2) >From buddy.pennington@ROCKHURST.EDU Tue Mar 21 10:43:07 2000 Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 09:37:36 -0600 From: "Pennington, Buddy" <buddy.pennington@ROCKHURST.EDU> Subject: Re: Serials module to kardex (Rachel Hollis) How long have you been using your serials module, and what module do you use? We just automated our checkin procedures last year using DRA's system, and everyone here loves it. The student workers who do the checkin say it is much easier than the old card system. Personally, I feel that going from an automated system to the old card system is a step backward but each library should make whatever decision it feels provides the best service to its users in the most efficient manner possible. We still checkin daily newspapers on cards as well as standing order items that are not barcoded, but have never and probably never will contemplate going back to cards for general serials. Buddy Pennington Acquisitions/Serials Librarian Rockhurst University Greenlease Library buddy.pennington@rockhurst.edu #816-501-4143 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 15:49:12 PST From: 5704P@VM1.CC.NPS.NAVY.MIL Subject: serials module to kardex Has any library considered, investigated or actually migrated from the serials module to kardex? there are murmuring here about investigating just such a move. while the serials module makes claiming easier (once the reports are properly written), handy information is available to patrons in the form of the "latest issues note/599 field" and for sites using the feature, additions in the form of item records and holdings information can be really easy, the amount of time it takes to manage the system is viewed as unbearable by some of the managers here. also maintenance of the records and check-in is about twice as time consuming and we simply do not have the staff available to maintain and manage the module. it seems that we do have the staff to manage and maintain a kardex. i'm not sure if the management wants to make the staff fit the services or the services fit the staff. what i know is that a strong voice is advocating going back to the kardex and the director has lately asked me some pointed questions about what the module really does for the library. i'd like to know if we are the first to consider such a move. cheers, Rachel Hollis, Serials Librarian _/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Naval Postgraduate School _/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ Monterey California _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ _/ 5704p@vm1.cc.nps.navy.mil _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ http://web.nps.navy.mil/%7erahollis
