---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 08:53:21 -0700
From: Lai-Ying Hsiung <lhsiung@CATS.UCSC.EDU>
Subject: Re: Bar coding serials (Peter C. Whiting)

When I was at my previous job, we had undertaken this BIG project of
collecting and entering barcodes into our library catalog.  By the time I
left the place last August, we were close to completing the last
batches.  It took us more than ten years, using mainly student
assistants.  Regular staff would work on it on a continuous, as-time permit
basis (preferably two hours a week).  We had trained all Technical Services
staff on the project.  It was the most useful when the system is down since
staff can always collect barcodes when they cannot perform their other
tasks online.

 From our experience, it is best to barcode the total run for each
title.  Do it systematically to avoid chaos. In our case, call number order
is the most useful.  If your serials are shelved by title, then title order
may be your best bet. Do not barcode just the most current few years
because for serials you never want to go back and revisit :) Maintain a
list of titles that have been done in the order they are shelved on a log
sheet for staff to sign in and out.  This can keep track of the progress,
avoid efforts being duplicated and useful for evaluation and analysis.  We
do not have the luxury of using laptops to work in the stacks.  Thus the
whole barcode collecting process has been performed manually.  We use lots
of function keys for data entry. You may be able to simplify the process if
you can use laptops to enter barcodes directly into your database.

You may contact me off list if you want further details
Lai-Ying Hsiung
McHenry Library--Serials
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA 95064

lhsiung@cats.ucsc.edu

At 09:24 PM 4/25/01 -0400, you wrote:
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 08:49:59 -0500
>From: "Whiting, Peter C" <PWhiting@USI.EDU>
>Subject: Bar coding serials
>
>This summer we are planning to bar code our serials collection. Any advice
>would be welcome. If your library has a procedure manual for bar coding
>serials that would be very helpful. Please send replies to me at
>pwhiting@usi.edu --Thanks! Peter
>
>Peter C. Whiting
>Serials Librarian
>David L. Rice Library
>University of Southern Indiana
>
>Evansville, IN 47712
>
>email: pwhiting@usi.edu
>812/465-1280; fax: 812/465-1693
>
>Check out the Rice Library web page at
>http://www.usi.edu/library/library.htm