----------(1) Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 08:29:09 -0500 From: Peter V. Picerno <ppicerno@UTMEM.EDU> Subject: Re: Arranging academic periodicals (2 messages) It seems to matter little what system one uses, at least to patrons: I've heard arguments for both sides of the issue with the informal conclusion that patrons get used to whatever system one uses. Having said that, however, the more important issue for librarians is the work-flow and work-related issue associated with either method. Will there be a 'current reading area' where all new or unbound issues are collected and held? I would strongly recommend this from the standpoint not only of user convenience but also for ease in keeping up with things like binding as well as different treatments of bound vs. unbound journals in terms of their circulation as well as shelving. It has been my experience that where unbound issues are shelved along side bound journals there is much more likelyhood of lost, damaged, or mis-shelved unbound issues, whereas there is greater control of these issues when they are collected in one place (i.e., a current reading area). If the location of the periodicals work room, furthermore, is able to adjoin this area, staff maintenance of the journal collection is greatly facilitated. If unbound issues don't circulate, their use and reshelving is easier to deal with in one area rather than if they are spread throughout the collection. In the best of all worlds (in my fantasy library), a current reading area would adjoin the work area and that area would be buffered by public-access copiers from the bound journal collection. Peter Picerno ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 08:47:45 -0700 From: Karen Munro <karenprairiedog@hotmail.com> Subject: Arranging academic periodicals Hello, I'm seeking wisdom from anyone with experience in arranging serials in an academic library. My library is small-to-medium (approx. 17,000 students) and we're renovating and re-arranging right now. The issue of a "periodicals floor" has been raised--i.e., grouping all periodicals on a single floor of the library. Some of us favour this arrangement, while others feel that it's best to keep serials together with their LC subjects on separate floors. I'd welcome any insight into this decision from those with more experience. Please feel free to reply to me individually, and if there's interest I'll post to the list. Many thanks, Karen Munro (Portland State University) ----------(2) Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 08:38:54 -0600 From: Dana Belcher <dbelcher@MAILCLERK.ECOK.EDU> Subject: Arranging academic periodicals (Karen Munro) -Reply When we moved into our new facility 4 years ago, we decided to have a periodicals floor. It was the best decision we ever made since all formats are included. Before, bounds were on various floors, microforms in the basement, and the currents in another room. Also, the copiers and reader/printers were yet in another area. We keep the currents and microforms in title order with the bounds being LC classified. The students don't seem to mind looking the call numbers up in the catalog since they have to go there to see our holdings anyway. Dana Belcher, Periodicals/Acquisitions Librarian East Central University Linscheid Library 1100 E. 14th Ada, OK 74820 580-310-5564 ----------(3) Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 08:59:40 -0500 From: Carol Green <Carol.Green@USM.EDU> Subject: Re: Arranging academic periodicals (Karen Munro) For many years all of our periodicals were arranged alphabetically with the bound periodicals shelved on one floor, the current unbound issues and newspapers shelved in a separate reading room and microforms in another room. Needless to say, users were running all over the place. When we built a new library the decision was made to arrange everything in LC order. The reading room contains the current year plus 3 prior years of unbound/bound periodicals......right now 1998- 2001 are there. That span of years seems to be what most of our students need for basic research papers. After that the bound volumes are shifted annually to the regular stacks and intershelved with the books. Also the newspapers and microforms are in the reading room. The only periodicals we have that are still arranged in alphabetical order are the periodicals microfiche. That's because we could not come up with a satisfactory way to put the call# on them. Of course there are some who prefer alphabetical order, but for the most part the users seem to like LC order. It facilitates browsing within subject areas....I've had several students and faculty remark that they found titles they didn't know about just because they could browse by subject. We have a regional campus with a library that still arranges periodicals alphabetically, but it is much smaller and works for them. They are in the process of building a new library, but I don't know if they plan to move to LC order in the future. More than you wanted to know! Carol D. Green Serials Librarian, Associate Professor The University of Southern Mississippi USM Libraries Box 5053 Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5053 (601) 266-4476 (601) 266-6033 fax Carol.Green@usm.edu ----------(4) Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 09:42:15 -0400 From: "White, Trenita" <trenita.white@SANTAFE.CC.FL.US> Subject: Re: Arranging academic periodicals (Karen Munro) We have our periodicals in a separate collection arranged in order by title. Most of the time, the patron has the title of the journal and it is easier for them to search this way. Trenita White Serial/ILL Santa Fe Community College Library 3000 NW 83 Street Gainesville, Florida 32606 (352) 395-5771 ----------(5) Date: Tue, 1 May 2001 11:45:34 -0400 From: DEberso@UTNET.UTOLEDO.EDU Subject: Re: Arranging academic periodicals (Karen Munro) Either classifying, the subject approach, or the title approach will work. Each has their advantages. First one should consider the library's clientele. Do they ask for periodicals by title? Or, do they often ask for what periodicals you have, where a subject approach would be helpful? They will Also, one could shelve current periodicals by title instead by classification, or vice versa. Online catalogs make both arrangements very easy to use. Displaying the call number along with the holdings information could make it easier to find titles that have multiple names such as JAMA, etc. Where looking up each title is stressed in class presentations, it would not be a problem to look up call numbers. Creating periodical lists with call numbers is very easy, and these can be quickly and inexpensively printed on networked laser printers. Shelving is the area in which classifying periodicals has the biggest advantage. Simple title changes file next to those of the previous title by using the same call no. This is easier for patrons and staff. Titles in the same subject will shelve together no matter what part of the alphabet the title starts with. Less time will be spent in shifting the classified collection due to title changes and additions. The science and technology areas in the classified collection will need attention to provide the requisite amount of space for the addition of new titles, etc. since most periodical titles will classify here. For usage sake a title can be easily moved to another area by changing the title's call number. The availability of compact storage for little used back files is also a consideration. Accessibility to on-line collections of full-text articles such as through the OhioLINK 's Electronic Journal Center, will impact the use of periodicals. For the present back files of periodicals will provide an essential backup in cases where access is lost to the on-line files. Students will prefer on-line full-text since it is so easy to manipulate into papers that can be quickly assembled and printed, or submitted in electronic format. The final decision is really a judgment call using the above factors plus local considerations. The input of faculty and students may be sought. If using survey instruments be certain you find out how they really use your library, not how they think it should be used. I have worked in libraries with both arrangements. While at the University of Houston where I was a Science Reference Librarian, I helped plan the move from title arrangement into a merged classified arrangement. At the University of Toledo I have served both as a Reference Librarian and as a Serials Cataloger. Also, I have planned the floor layouts and the move of the collections into Carlson Library. Recently, I planned the shift of the entire periodicals collection utilizing a spread sheet to plan the move. Dale Ebersole
