I am interested in responses to this, also. Every now and then we learn
that we do not have access to something we have paid Humungous Bucks
for, and while I keep hoping to initiate a process to check on them
regularly, it keeps getting postponed . . .
Jeanette L. Skwor
Cofrin Library
University of WI-Green Bay
(920) 465-2670
"Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will
get you through times of no libraries."
Anne Herbert, The Whole Earth Catalog
-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Chisman, Janet
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 11:12 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Looking for other libraries that have eliminated
check-in
So what are people doing about checkin for electronic resources? We
don't check those in.
-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Hijleh, Renee
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 8:16 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Looking for other libraries that have eliminated
check-in
Actually, you are mistaken in your oversimplification of matters. As a
state institution, we have a responsibility to the public to see that
their funds are used properly. And we actually have had auditors come to
our department, check our invoices, and demand to see that ALL of the
issues PAID FOR were RECEIVED. If they have not been received, then they
require a documented explanation. This does not bother me, and
furthermore I feel that this is how things should be run. (And yes, I
could be reproved, with possible loss of my job, if it was deemed that I
was not handling my duties correctly and costing the state money by
mishandling departmental funds.)
Our journal subscriptions are costly, and getting insanely more so every
year.
We cannot afford to pay $600 or more for a quarterly, or $7,000 or more
for a weekly, and then not know whether or not we are receiving all that
we have paid for! Who responsibly spends money this way?
Furthermore our overall journal budget is not that forgiving. We cannot
afford to be cavalier with how any of our funds are spent.
You start having multiple problems with expensive journals (like
Elsevier, Blackwell, etc.) and the cost for loss starts adding up into
the thousands of dollars quickly and easily. Who can actually afford to
just let $5,000 to $10,000 of materials go missing and unaccounted for?
Would be acceptable for your book budget? Or any other budget?..
I don't think so. Money lost is money lost. Thus, to me, its the height
of irresponsibility and misuse of departmental funds to knowingly allow
nonreceipt of any materials paid for. Conversely, responsible management
is getting exactly what you paid for in a timely manner, and if there
are problems, refunds and compensation for missed issues are ALWAYS
required.
Any prolonged problems with titles or publishers are resolved by
discontinuing doing business with them and finding a better alternative.
Most arguments for ditching checkin ring hollow. When it comes right
down to it, it represents lazy management and the equivalent of playing
Russian Roulette with your budget. How can you have an accurate finger
on the pulse of your journal collection without checkin, and
corresponding use studies? You can't. Because you have no idea what you
have received, nor what is being used. You also have no idea if you have
overlapped subs (that basically equates to double billing for the same
issues), dropped subs, delayed issues, missed issues, misdelivered subs,
etc., etc., etc. You would even have a hard time catching title changes!
You'd have to wait until the next billing cycle, and that's only if your
department paid the invoice and not some other accounts payable
department at your institution! How can anyone call this good
management?
You can't, because its not. I am one voice that will never join the
noncheckin bandwagon!!
My passionate 2 cents....
Renee Hijleh
Periodicals Department
William D. McIntyre Library
PO Box 5010
University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI 54702-5010
715-836-3306
fax: 715-836-2949
-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Dan Lester
Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2006 5:05 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Looking for other libraries that have eliminated
check-in
Every state and every institution has different rules regarding auditing
of institutional property. However, has an auditor EVER come looking to
see if you have the December 2004 issue of Albanian Underwater
Basketweaving? I didn't think so.
Remember that even if you have a subscription to the journal, and have
carefully recorded that you received it, that doesn't mean that it is
still in the library. Right? As long as you have some issues for 04 (or
whatever subscription period) and the documents that show you paid for
it (rather than writing a check to yourself), I believe you've done your
duty. And even if your auditors aren't happy that they, what sanctions
are they going to take? Certainly they can't do anything that will get
you fired.
No, I'm not, thank goodness, an auditor. But I do know that we
librarians make FAR too many decisions based on "what if" worst case
scenarios than we need to. All too many libraries and library
departments are managed by fear and worry, rather than common sense.
dan
Wednesday, January 11, 2006, 1:51:51 PM, you wrote:
TSE> There were a
TSE> number of participants however who quickly noted that check-in was
TSE> required for auditing purposes.
--
Dan Lester, Data Wrangler dan@RiverOfData.com 208-283-7711
3577 East Pecan, Boise, Idaho 83716-7115 USA www.riverofdata.com Fair
is whatever God decides to do.
