Dear SerialListers,

We are undergoing a process of selecting a new ILS system, and our choice
has narrowed to two: a system that supports MARC for holdings and one that
does not (as of yet).  We have made several site visits to libraries using
each system, but none of these libraries were utilizing MARC for holdings
even when their ILS system was capable of doing so.  In an effort to find
out how strongly I should push for a system that supports MARC for holdings,
I would like to ask any of you out there who do use MARC for holdings (and
forgive my naivete'):

How do you utilize MARC for holdings?

What added value is there for your catalog?  for your staff in serials
processing?

Do you download publication patterns via MARC for holdings?

Does MARC for holdings affect OPAC display at all?

Please share any other thoughts or answers to questions I _should_ be
asking.  I feel very ill equipped to advocate strongly one way or another
when I just don't have a good handle on the purpose and function of MARC for
holdings for my library.

I appreciate very much your responses, and you can send them to me rather
than the list if you prefer.

Best regards,

Ellen Simmons
Periodicals Librarian
University of Dallas
William A. Blakley Library
1845 E. Northgate Drive
Irving, Texas 75062
Phone: 972 721-4130
Fax:  972 721-4010
email:  esimmons@udallas.edu