Last year I worked as a solo librarian for a small museum library with
limited funds.  I chose the Surpass automation system because it was
very user friendly and affordable.  They have a serials module that you
might want to research unless you already have and did not find it
adequate.  Another option which may work is creating a system on MS
Access.  There are many libraries managing serials successfully with
Access.  I hope these suggestions help!  You are working on such an
great project, good luck!

Beth Bogdanski, MLIS
Library Holdings Consultant
ProQuest-UMI Division
800-521-0600x3819
elizabeth.bogdanski@il.proquest.com
http://www.umi.com

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of John Lucas
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2004 11:30 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] Need expert advice from "Cardex" users or with small
stand alone check in modules

Hello Fellow Serialists:

Next year, our library will be hosting 3 librarians from Iraq, with the
purpose helping them get an idea of what is available to them with the
amount of connectivity they hope to have in the near future. As they are
starting from scratch, one of my immediate problems is to get them
started on a minimal, manual check in system for what journals they do
have and will be getting to start them off.  An ILS appears to be a few
years away.

I am referring to the 'visible card' or Cardex system as most know
it.  I have worked in larger medical school libraries throughout my
career and have really no experience with this formalized system. Even
this would give them a sense of forward progress.

In my  P.F. (pre-fire) career, we used a very primitive index card
system, but I have had to dump those experiences due to insufficient RAM
and my current memory is none to reliable.

Now I know it is not 'rocket science' but I have some questions on
how some basic titles might be handled and how others might do it
differently. (ie.) Do you use check marks or write in the issue numbers?
What are the 'colored signals' used for, Claims and if so how?  What
parts of the card do you use, and what you ignore? And things like
that.

There still must be libraries, using this, or the library suppliers
would not have these products. I am looking for some libraries who are
willing to share their experience, and maybe their check in procedure
pages. (Gaylord, Demco and the others do not have instruction sheets, so
I guess that everyone should know how to use it to its fullest)

Also I thought at one time there were some small, stand alone serials
modules out there.  I have been unable to find them to date.  The small
"periodical manager" programs the library suppliers have seem to be
nothing more than an accession list. Even these might be currently
beyond their capability at the present but would be another interim step
towards an ILS system.

Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

John Lucas

Serials Librarian
University of Mississippi Medical Center
2500 North State St
Jackson, MS 39216-4505

(PH) (601) 984-1277
(FAX)  ( 601) 984-1262
JLUCAS@ROWLAND.UMSMED.EDU