Once we get a few copies of a free periodical, we check with the subject
specialist and see if they want to add it.  If so, we put on a complete
record with a note that it comes for free.  Generally, after a few
months or a year, we get an invoice for further copies and, at that
point, we ask again if they want to purchase the magazine.

If they don't want to add it to the collection, we just discard them.

Sarah Simpson
Tulsa City-County Library

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Matt Person
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 2:03 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Handling free periodicals

Hi Katherine-

You do have no recourse when they skip an issue.

We have a carousel in our reading room filled with such publications- we
just stamp them.  When they don't arrive, they don't arrive!

Best wishes,
Matt

Hill, Katherine wrote:

>    I'm wondering how you handle periodicals that are available through
>a free subscription.  We are a community college library and have a few
>such titles that relate to our curriculum.  Our experience is that they
>arrive sporadically and we never know if we really have a subscription
>or not.  Normally we won't subscribe to a title that is not indexed,
but
>for some of our curricula, we like to have everything we can get.  But
>if they aren't indexed and don't show up in databases, they won't be
>used.  Trying to get the faculty to encourage their use is an uphill
>battle.
>    The latest example we've received is Hygienetown.  The cover says
>"Welcome to the Premier Issue!"  It is apparently a spinoff from Perio
>Reports, which we get through our vendor.  Another example is
Dimensions
>of Dental Hygiene, free with web registration, but costing $40 from our
>vendor.
>    So my question is, do you catalog these and/or make room for them
on
>your shelves?    Or just pretend they don't exist and wash your hands
of
>the whole thing?
>
>Katherine H. Hill
>
>Department Chair
>
>Serials/Circulation Librarian
>
>North Campus Library
>
>Erie Community College
>
>6205 Main St., Williamsville, NY 14221
>
>716-851-1278
>
>
>
>

--

Matthew A. Person
Serials Librarian                        >)))'>
MBLWHOI Library
Marine Biological Laboratory
7 MBL Street
Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543 USA
phone: 508 289 7345  fax: 540 6902             >)))'>
email: mperson@mbl.edu
=======================================================
Member of: NASIG - North American Serials Interest Group
                   ALA - American Library Association