Friday, May 12, 2000, 12:19:57 PM, you wrote:

DB> We keep continuous use statistics.  Our students have to do "pick ups" all
DB> day long, so we have them scan in what they pick up before shelving.  We
DB> have Innovative, and have set up item records for all current and mf
DB> titles.  The bound volumes automatically have item records.  We have a
DB> rolodex containing barcodes for each current/mf title that is then scanned
DB> for each item picked up.
DB>  For the bound, we just scan the barcode on the item.

At Boise State all bound volumes are also barcoded.  They're scanned
when picked up, just as are other books, reference tools, and so
forth.

Our current issues are shelved alphabetically by title in a current
periodicals area (bound volumes classified in stacks with books).
There is a label for each title on the edge of the shelf.  In addition
to the title label there is a barcode for the current issues of the
title.  The students reshelving just zap the barcode the same number
of times as they reshelved issues.

We've been doing this for about three years, so there isn't any long
term history yet.  I'm not in charge of serials or collection
development, so can't comment on how this data is used, other than to
say that it is one of several factors that helps to determine whether
a journal is retained or a subscription continued. As the liaison to
four academic departments I regularly hassle some of my faculty in
Physics and Chemistry about journals costing in the high four figures
that are used only one or two times a year.  Of course convincing them
that we'll get them purchased document delivery whenever they want an
article from those journals is a different problem.

cheers

dan

--
Dan Lester  dan@RiverOfData.com
3577 East Pecan, Boise, ID 83716-7115 USA
www.riverofdata.com  www.postcard.org  www.gailndan.com