Gee, my brother went to an Ivy League school as an undergraduate and a
graduate student, but I hate to bother him just to ask about the unbound
periodicals arrangement.  It was over 30 years ago, anyway.

As to the actual question, I don't know what level of staffing you have for
the periodicals room, but I would be tempted to point out that the staff
for that area would always be more than happy to help the person locate
all the periodicals he/she needs, so that he/she doesn't have to go on a
hunting expedition.

The discussion of whether to arrange unbound periodicals alphabetically or
by subject classification has been batted about for years.  It would seem more
appropriate for a research library to use subject classification, but I think
no matter which arrangement one uses, eventually (or occasionally) some library
user is going to complain about one or the other.  I think you just have to
be as patient as possible and then come back here (to Serialst) and get the
moral support we all need sometimes.

Of course, it's Saturday, and I often mellower on Saturdays.

Best regards!

Sarah Tusa, Associate Professor
Coordinator of Acquisitions
Mary & John Gray Library
Lamar University
Beaumont, TX