We follow a similar procedure as Dana as far as scanning everything that
gets reshelved, item records for bound volumes in Innovative, etc.

Couple of hangups we have found and not gotten past yet:

Some of our librarians are concerned about the date range of "current
issues"; as we all know, depending on your binding schedule, there could
be anywhere from two weeks to two years of "current issues" on the shelf
at any given time.  The average is likely around one year but I haven't
verified this.  Dana, can I ask you what assumptions you make regarding
the time span of current issues?  Some librarians feel that they need more
precise usage data for current issues (specifically in
chemistry/physics/engineering), and we are not sure how to obtain this
conveniently in an automated way w/out barcoding every issue.

Dana, could you also tell us the size of your collection and the software
you are using to manipulate the data?

We are exploring various cost per use methodologies too.  Is anyone doing
anything experimental?  How about journal impact factors, half-life, etc.?
Use of eletronic versions of titles?  Any preferred approaches, experience
to share out there?

Jennifer Sweeney
Library Analyst
Shields Library
University of California
Davis, CA 95616

voice (530) 752-5819
fax (530) 752-6899
jksweeney@ucdavis.edu

At 02:19 PM 05/12/2000 -0400, Dana Belcher wrote:
>How do you do it?  (Using barcodes? scanners? etc.)
>
>We keep continuous use statistics.  Our students have to do "pick ups" all
>day long, so we have them scan in what they pick up before shelving.  We
>have Innovative, and have set up item records for all current and mf
>titles.  The bound volumes automatically have item records.  We have a
>rolodex containing barcodes for each current/mf title that is then scanned
>for each item picked up.
>  For the bound, we just scan the barcode on the item.
>
>Do you collect data for each title for each year, or by spans of years (e.g.
>1980-1990)?  If so, which spans of years do you use, and why?
>
>We collect data for each year, June 1-May 31.  We than put the use data
>into an allocation formula that distributes the book budget among the
>academic depts. The data is also used to determine if titles should be
>kept or whatnot.  We keep statistics separately for each medium so we can
>see which format is being used most.  We've changed alot of retention
>periods because the mf or bound was not being used.  We now keep about 1/3
>of the current titles on the shelves for 2-5 years instead of converting
>them to mf or binding.
>
>What are the pros and cons of your automated method?
>
>Up until 1996, we kept the statistics manually like you do now.  Automate
>as soon as possible!  It's alot easier, and the software allows you to
>sum, sort, and all other possibilities.  We really haven't had any
>problems with the automation.
>
>Feel free to contact me personally.
>
>Dana Belcher, Periodicals/Acquisitions Librarian
>East Central University
>Linscheid Library
>200 S. Stadium Drive
>Ada, OK 74820
>580-310-5564
><dbelcher@MAILCLERK.ECOK.EDU>