We're a public library subscribing to 30-40 newspapers.  We create bib,
order, and holdings records for titles on III Millennium, but don't use
the check in card function for newspapers because it takes too much time
to look up each one online.

I like to know if we're having delivery problems, and we do have
patrons inquiring about specific dates,  so we have a paper chart for
each month; each day we put the papers in alpha and date order and check
off the ones we received.  That part takes about 10 minutes and we can
tell at a glance if we're missing any issues.  That is the only remnant
of the old pre-computer routine and it has survived for decades because
it does the job with little fuss.

Physical prep is negligible...an ownership/date recd stamp on the first
page.  They don't circulate, and even when we tried stapling parts of
the paper together we found that people took them apart and walked off
with whatever sections they were interested in, so we gave up on that.
Items that have extremely high loss rate (for example, the classifieds
from the Sunday Oregonian) are pulled and kept behind the counter.
Patrons have to leave ID with us to have a look at those.

Holdings statements online give the general retention info e.g.
"Current and previous six months."

I hope this helps.
Janet
Janet Bassett
Technical Services
Salem Public Library
PO Box 14810
Salem OR 97309-5010

ph: 503-588-6473
jbassett@cityofsalem.net

>> kdalius@BUCKNELL.EDU 6/7/2007 5:17 AM >>>
I would be very interested in knowing how you process newspapers at
your
library.  Do you check in. & if so, what system does your library use
(e.g.
SIRSI, etc.)

If you do NOT check in, how do you keep track of your holdings?
Anything
else you care to share would be appreciated.

Kathryn A. Dalius
Library Technical Assistant Serials
Information Services and Resources

Bertrand Library / Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA  17837
PH   (570) 577-1663
FAX (570) 577-3313
 <mailto:kdalius@bucknell.edu> kdalius@bucknell.edu