-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Serials Sect DGs
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001 12:33:16 -0600
From: Carolynne Myall <cmyall@MAIL.EWU.EDU>

Dear members of the serials community--

Bob Persing, Michael Elmore, and I have been charged by the ALCTS
Serials
Section Executive Committee to evaluate the Section's discussion groups:
Journal Costs DG and Research Libraries DG.

We believe that participants, former participants, and prospective
participants in the Section's discussion groups have insights and
observations that we need to hear. We'd appreciate your help in the
evaluation process.

Could you answer the following questions for us? Or even a few of these
questions?  (We know you all are busy!)  And if these questions don't
seem
to you to be the right questions, or the most relevant questions, feel
free
to add any comments and observations that you would like us to consider.

Please send responses directly to me at cmyall@mail.ewu.edu, or to Bob
at
persing@pobox.upenn.edu, or to Michael at melmore@barnard.columbia.edu.
We
will be happy to share a summary of results, after we have completed our
report.

Thank you in advance for your help in this process.

Best regards,
Carolynne Myall
Vice Chair, Serials Section

**************************

        During the past two years, have you attended meetings of either
of
the two Serials Section Discussion Groups-- Research Libraries DG and
Journal Costs DG-- at ALA's Annual Conference?  At Midwinter Conference?

        What prompted you to attend, or not to attend discussion group
meetings?

        If you have attended meetings at both conferences, have you
noticed
any differences (e.g. attendance) between Serials DG meetings at Annual
and
Midwinter Conferences?

        Did you feel that any part of the meeting was too long, too
short,
not necessary? If so, do you have any ideas for improving the meetings?

        What opportunities for discussion did the sessions provide?
Small
group, whole audience, response to presentations?

        Were there typically enough attendees at the sessions to carry
on a
discussion?

        Did the specific topics for discussion seem important to
attendees?
Did they join in discussion readily, or reluctantly, or not at all?  Did
you, personally, learn anything about serials practice?

         Are the Journal Costs DG and the Research Libraries DG still
useful
to participants?  Is their focus just specific enough, too broad or too
narrow, of continuing current interest or outdated?

        Would other DGs be useful, and if so, in what subject areas?
Why do
you think so?

        In your experience, do the discussion groups provide any unique
or
unusual opportunities for participants that they wouldn't have (or
wouldn't
have as reliably or frequently) through other groups, or through
programs?

        Do you have other observations about Serials DGs? Is there
anything
else that you would like to tell us about your discussion group
experience?

************
Carolynne Myall
Head, Collection Services
University Libraries of Eastern Washington University
LIB 100, 816 F St.
Cheney, WA  99004-2423
Phone (509) 359-6967; FAX (509) 359-2476; Internet cmyall@ewu.edu