-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Popular Periodicals - Decisions, Decisions...
Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2002 14:09:34 -0800
From: Pat Meyer <pmeyer@NU.EDU>

We previously had a Popular Periodicals section, but recently moved to a
new
building where the architect "forgot" to include the special shelving
for
Popular Periodicals.

Buddy's points of concern are all valid.  I don't miss it at all from
the
perspective of managing all the special handling involved.

On behalf of the patrons, I must add:
In our old location, the Popular Periodical section was heavily used as
a place
to relax and take a mental break from studying.  This is based on usage
statistics that reflected only the journals that patrons left on the
chairs and
tables for the staff to reshelve.  For several months after our move,
patrons
asked for it in the new building.
Requests have tapered off after 2 years.  I suspect it is because our
patrons
are predominately grad students in an accelerated  1-class-per-month
format.
There  aren't many left who remember "way back when..." and our new
students
don't seem to expect a "leisure-oriented" area besides the Internet
terminals...

Pat Meyer
Serials Specialist
National University Library
9393 Lightwave Avenue
San Diego,  CA  92123-1447
pmeyer@nu.edu
voice (858) 541-7917
toll free (866) NU-ACCESS ext.7917
fax (858) 541-7997