-------- Original Message --------
Subject: DRA Serials check-in
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 09:29:24 -0500
From: Mary Williams <mwilliams@tarleton.edu>

Cross posted, please forgive any duplication:

 When I began working with the serials module, one of our headaches was
a seasonal check-in, particularly if a season were omitted in the
publication scheme.  When setting up a pattern, the volume and number
appeared in the caption (enumeration) and the season appeared in the
chronology with the year.  We entered a code for calendar change which
determined which season was n1 and prompted a volume change for the
appropriate expected issue.  When an issue was displayed, however, it
displayed with one point of enumeration (v) and three of chronology
(season, month and year); for example, v2:Spring (03/1999).

 Since our upgrade to 2.5-2 we have learned that regardless of what
enumeration is on the issue in hand, we must check the seasonals in as
if n1 were winter, n2 were spring, etc.  So if we have a journal which
begins each volume in autumn (v2:n1) we have to check the volume in as
v2:n4.  It displays as v2:nAutumn.  I have two concerns:

 1. An old question: since the enumeration is incorrect, how can the
reference personnel help with a citation when a patron is looking for
v2:n1 with only a year and our records say we have v2:nWinter, 01/1999.?

 B. When we got a claim for a seasonal title we had to go to the issue
record and "edit" it to see what number we were claiming.  (We like to
provide complete information to our vendor, it provides a check against
error.)  Now, however, we can't even do that because of the static
numbering of the seasons.  I intend to have the check-in person add a
note to each issue with the actual enumeration of the issue, but this
means - of course - an extra step.

Additionally, someone (me) will have to go back to each and every one of
our seasonal journals and edit the issue records to bring them in line
with DRA's numbering pattern.

And I have always thought that technology was to serve us.

The person on DRA's helpdesk assured me that the software was working
the way it's supposed to and that there had never been a change to the
seasonal check-in.  I agree that the software works the way it was
designed, but I think that it's a bad design.  If memory serves it was
this way once, then was changed about 1995, when I first began working
with DRA.

Do any of you have the same experience?  How are you handling the
seasonal check in?

I used to wonder why institutions with DRA didn't use the serials
module, even with its short comings.  I'm beginning to understand why.
We're faced with migration to TAOS and attendant expenses.  I believe
it's time that our institution gave serious thought to a different ILS.

Thanks for your time,

Mary

(The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

--

Mary W. Williams
Periodicals Librarian
Dick Smith Library
Box T-0450
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX  76402

(254) 968-9868
(254) 968-9467  FAX

email: mwilliams@vms.tarleton.edu