This is an interesting question.  How do you know when the next issue
is available online?  I can't imagine libraries having the staff hours
to periodically print off a list and check each of the titles to see if
new issues are available and then check in those issues.

Many libraries are forced to assume that access is fine until a problem
is reported.  That is the case here.  We use Serials Solutions so there
is some reliance on them to make sure the links are working etc.  Some
also use link checkers to check for broken links.  I rely on public
services staff to contact me if we have an access problem based on our
subscriptions.  With the constant changes (publishers changing portal
sites, etc.), we typically end up reviewing batches of titles
periodically.

A compromise might be to check the access instead of checking in the
actual issues.  So periodically (monthly, quarterly, annually, etc.),
you print off a title list and have a student check to see if they can
access an article from the current issue.

Buddy Pennington
Serials Acquisitions Librarian
UMKC - University Libraries
800 E. 51st Street
Kansas City, MO  64110
816-235-1548
816-333-5584 (fax)
penningtonb@umkc.edu

UMKC University Libraries: Connecting Learners to the World of Knowledge

www.umkc.edu/lib

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of JUDY IRVIN
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 8:14 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] checking in online journals

For many years our library has been receiving material online.
However, these subscriptions have been in addition to the print
subscriptions placed for the library and we have checked in only the
print subscrption.

This year we have decided to renew a number of these subscriptions as
online only.  My question to the serials world is:  Do you check in
online subscriptions?  If so, how?  If not, how are you showing
accountability to your administration?

This has probably been discussed but just a refresher would be nice.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice.

Judy Irvin
Head, Serials Department
Prescott Memorial Library          e-mail: jirvin@library.latech.edu
Louisiana Tech University          voice: 318-257-3988
Ruston, LA  71272-0046             fax: 318-257-2579