One advantage is that Access has greater filtering and sorting
capabilities. Excel is capable of sorting and filtering, too, but you
can't include as many criteria at one time. For example, in Excel you
can do a custom filter on a column of data with only two criteria, say
"cancelled" OR "Ceased". If you wanted to also filter "delayed" at the
same time, you can't. There is a way around that, but it requires making
copies of the worksheet, which gets confusing and messy in very short
order.

Opinions vary, but I think either program can do the job. If you're
familiar with one and not the other, I'd recommend going with what
you're most comfortable with. It is pretty easy to transfer data from
one to the other. So if you find you want the filtering or reporting
functions of Access, or need the mathematical functions in Excel, you
can always copy over the data.

Steve Black
Reference, Serials, and Instruction Librarian
The College of Saint Rose
392 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203-1419
blacks@strose.edu
(518)458-5494

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Bernadette Jones
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 9:52 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] collection analysis database

Could someone explain the advantages of using Access over Excel?
Thanks.

Bernadette Jones
Saint Michael's College Library
Winooski Park
Colchester, VT  05439
e-mail: bjones@smcvt.edu
Phone: 802-654-2404

-----Original Message-----
From: Sandhya D. Srivastava [mailto:LIBRSDS@MAIL1.HOFSTRA.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 9:13 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] collection analysis database

Hi Tracy

I have created such a database using MS Access.  It is easier to use
and allows you to create queries on the subject areas.   It contains all
our accounting information, our periodical statistics, and all the
formats that we receive a title i.e. print w/free ejournal, ejournal,
microform, bundled packages, etc.

If you have any questions on how to build you can contact me at
librsds@hofstra.edu .

Sandhya

Sandhya D. Srivastava
Assistant Professor
Serials Librarian
Hofstra University
Axinn Library
123 Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York 11550
Telephone: (516) 463 - 5959
Fax: (516) 463 - 6438
Email: librsds@hofstra.edu

>>> tracy.englert@USM.EDU 7/13/2004 4:51:08 PM >>>

My library needs to create a database to analyze our collection such
as
paper journal use, ejournal use, database & document delivery
(infotrieve)
use and circulation & ill use/stats. We are a SIRSI site (Unicorn
version
2002-G2002).

Has anyone else created such a database/system before we start?

thank you,

Tracy

Tracy Ann Koch Englert, Media Librarian
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5053
Hattiesburg, MS 39406

601.266.6396
601.266.6033 (fax)
tracy.englert@usm.edu