3 messages:

(1)-------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 10:05:34 -0400
From: "Kemp, Rebecca" <kempr@uncw.edu>

It might be helpful to point out to the patron that journal titles often
change, and this creates a shelving problem, if the library uses
alphabetical title order (as my library does).  LC call numbers would be
extremely useful for collocating the whole run of the periodical,
regardless of title.

Also, Naomi, does your library have a "popular current periodicals"
section where a patron can pick up the latest Time or Sports Illustrated
without consulting the catalog?

--Rebecca

Rebecca Kemp
Serials Supervisor Librarian
W.M. Randall Library
University of North Carolina Wilmington
601 S. College Rd.
Wilmington, NC 28403
Phone: (910)962-7220
Fax: (910)962-3078
kempr@uncw.edu

(2)-------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 09:38:03 -0500
From: "Luellen L. Breed, Serials Librarian and Library Automation
    Manager-Voyager" <luellen.breed@uwp.edu>
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] What would YOU say to this disgruntled patron?

Hi--
We had a similar problem a few years ago with a faculty member looking
for current periodicals.  So, we decided to provide a printed list, in
alphabetic order, with just title and call number.  The lists are
hanging on the ends of the stacks in the current periodical section.  I
update the list once a semester unless we've had significant changes to
the collection.  That way, if someone gets to the stacks and can't
remember the call number, they can just check the list.  This is useful
for new titles.  Also, I've found it helpful myself when I go to check
something and can't remember the call number I've not bothered to write
down since of course I'll remember it long enough to get to the stacks.
We don't seem to have the same problems with bound journals -- people
seem to expect to have to have a call number.  We also have an
electronic list on our library home page listing both print journals and
electronic journals.  It doesn't include call numbers yet but I'm trying
to convince the Reference Librarians that call numbers would be useful
for patrons.  The list links to our catalog so Reference staff feel
that's how the patrons should get the call number.

Luellen Breed
University of Wisconsin - Parkside

(3)-------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 10:18:47 -0500
From: Lori Kappmeyer <losmus@iastate.edu>
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] What would YOU say to this disgruntled patron?

I know the answer I am about to give you is very simplistic, because it
assumes that all the periodicals are in one place arranged by
classification number.  If this was the case, then all the economics
periodicals would be in one place, and all the history periodicals in
another place, etc.  If someone wanted to browse among periodicals in a
particular subject area, all he/she would need to do is find the call
number for one of them and then go see what other ones are there as
well.  So unless the patron already has in mind a number of specific
periodicals in these subject areas, it would seem the classified system
would be more helpful then a system arranged by title.  Titles change,
too, so if they are all shelved by title, that would separate runs or
still require a check of records to find out where the title is
shelved.

The Iowa State University Library has classified periodicals (and all
serials) for many years.  My answer above is simplistic because while
most of the titles that still come in paper are shelved in the stacks by
call number with the books, there are still various locations for the
current issues of certain titles (the Periodical Room or different
Reading Rooms).   In addition, there are many periodicals that we no
longer receive in paper, so someone would not know we had them by
browsing the shelves.   The place where one can find them all is the
online catalog.  It seems that checking some kind of list, online or
not, is necessary in any large library where the periodicals may be
shelved in a variety of locations, whether classified or by title.
Eventually the location of periodical issues may be less of a concern as
more are available electronically, so putting a lot of effort into
changing the way a paper collection is arranged now may not have
long-term benefits.

So, to the patron, I would say the online catalog (or whatever means is
used to find the call numbers) is the alphabetical list.  Finding one
title in each of the subject areas should lead to the call numbers where
others in that same subject could be browsed.  In that way the patron
might have more to browse than if he relies strictly on searching by
specific titles.

Lori Osmus Kappmeyer
Head, Cataloging & Metadata Department
Iowa State University Library

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Naomi Young
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 2:58 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] What would YOU say to this disgruntled patron?

What would you say if you had been asked to answer this electronic
reference query?
---
Reference Question = I would like to peruse various periodicals related
to Africa, political science, economics, sociology, history, religion,
etc. It would certainly have been nice if UF would have arranged the
periodicals alphabetically (like most major universities, including the
Ivy league). Instead I have to find the call number for each
periodical!
This is crazy! Is an alphabetical list available? If not, can one be
posted electronically and also a hard copy posted in the periodical
room? I'm sure other students are going to be driven mad when they
cannot simply walk into the library and read Time, Newsweek or Sports
Illustrated, but instead have to find a computer and figure out where
the magazine is located.
------

The snide answers that are leaping to my fingers are neither kind nor
user-centered... I'm curious ... what would YOU say?

(Bonus points for Ivy League respondents who class their unbound
issues)!

Friday regards,
Naomi Young

Naomi K. Young
Principal Serials Cataloger
Cataloging & Metadata Dept.
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-7007
(352) 392-0355 ext 234
naomi@uflib.ufl.edu