-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Routed journals not returned
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2001 11:12:36 -0500
From: "Newton, Jody" <Jody.Newton@fema.gov>

I have a problem I hope someone has some suggestions for.  I'm sure it
is a
common problem.

We are a small federal library that deals mainly with
fire/disaster/emergency related titles.  We route quite a few journals
around campus in red binders (the kind that open and close with the help
of
allen wrenches).  Recently, several binders came back empty and without
a
routeslip.  I have no idea who had them, how long they were MIA, or what
titles they were.

My supervisor has asked me to come up with some suggestions.  I am going
to
look through our supply catalogs to see what they have, but I wanted to
ask
around for some suggestions here, too.  Our policy so far is this:  I
route
things around for up to one month.  After that, you can expect an email
from
me reminding you to return it if you have it.  I am lenient for the
routeslips that are very long.  After that, if it is not returned (and
it is
not a multiple-copy subscription) I will not route any future issues of
that
title until the one in question is returned.  This very rarely happens.
But
when I don't know what the journal even is, I can't do anything, can I?

What do other libraries do about this problem, and what types of binders
(if
any) do you use?

Thank you!

Jody Newton
National Emergeny Training Center Library
FEMA
Emmitsburg, MD  21727

jody.newton@fema.gov
(301) 447-1354