Marcia,

We used to participate in the ALCTS DEU program. However, this was
cumbersome because we only have 2 people to handle our serials and it was a
pain to put together a printed list and get it out to all of the members.
Currently, we participate in the BACKSERV listserv both to offer and request
materials.  This has been much easier and many buyers monitor the listserv
so they are reached at the same time.

We generally offer our discards twice to make sure everyone has seen the
list and then we recycle what we can or dump the rest.  When possible, we'll
donate some to missionaries or other organizations that we know of if the
materials are appropriate.

Over the past 6 years that I have been over serials, I've seen a tremendous
decrease in the amount of material we've had to request.  Part of that is
due to an increasing budget and part because so many of our titles are now
either on microfiche or electronic.  If I'm unable to get missing issues
from Ebsco's missing copy bank, then I request them on the listserv.  We try
to spend minimal time on DEU, mainly using it to complete bindery titles.

I hope this helps!

Dena L. Luce
Extended Services Librarian
Faulkner University
Gus Nichols Library
5345 Atlanta Hwy.
Montgomery, AL 36109-3398
(334) 386-7482 (ph.)
(334) 286-7481 (fax)
dluce@faulkner.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: Marcia Trauernicht [mailto:mstwml@RITVAX.ISC.RIT.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2000 2:42 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Duplicate exchanges and workflow

Duplicate exchange has come up for discussion recently at my library. Our
current practice consists of gathering our unwanted issues after
withdrawal, preparing a shipment (with shipment spreadsheet), and sending
out the spreadsheet list to vendors for bids.

Lately, we've found that the vendors aren't offering nearly as much money
for these shipments as in the past. The concern centers upon the amount of
staff time taken up by this process as compared to the amount of money
received from vendors for each shipment--in other words, the question has
been asked: "Is this still worth doing?" We currently do not supply any
issues to cooperative exchanges.

I've searched the SERIALST archives and found information about duplicate
exchanges that focuses primarily on sources for cooperative exchanges and
missing issue banks.

I would like to know what practices are in effect at your libraries and
how much staff time (regular staff and student staff) is devoted to this
process.  I am interested not only in workflow concerning interactions
with vendors, but also in any cooperative exchange practices. Pros and
cons of each are welcome.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Marcia S. Trauernicht
Wallace Library
Rochester Institute of Technology
mstwml@rit.edu
(716) 475-7292