Just a thought...and probably not a good or helpful one (was going to
respond off-list but couldn't find your e-mail address):
This answer isn't feasible, but something to consider for the future
maybe ... and it's going to sound like I'm a rep for III (Innovative
Interfaces Inc {library system}).  I don't know if all other library
systems offer similar gadgets.  Anyway, at the recent IUG (Innovative
User's Group) meeting in Southern California, III briefly touted the
benefits of "Circa" (sp?) stating that the wireless version of this
scanner used in conjunction with RFID (THAT'S the potentially unfeasible
part...scanner itself may not be too expensive but RFID tagging an
entire collection sounds major) allows you to scan books without even
touching the shelves (being promoted as an inventory tool).  Presumably
with one of these fun toys, one could send a student out in the library
every few hours and scan tables.  I don't know how sensitive it is, but
I'm imagining if you walked fairly close to the reading patrons, that it
would even pick up items currently in their hands.  But then, would you
have to compare lists from your previous scans, and subtract titles
scanned previously...and pay close attention as to whether that's a
different student/patron/customer using that same book you scanned 3
hours ago?
Ehhh. like I said--it was just a thought.

Tracie Lynne Hall

Serials and Acquisitions Librarian
Chapman University Law Library
370 N. Glassell Street
3rd Floor, Room 325
Orange, CA  92866

Phone: 714 628-2539
Fax: 714 628-2560

e-mail: trhall@chapman.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Radcliff, Joyce
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 9:36 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] New York Times & Wall St Journal indexes

Hello:

I'm searching for a better way to keep usage statistics for our current
journals. We have signs that says not to re-shelve when used, but are
mostly ignored. Does any of you have a better way of keeping fairly
accurate statistics? You may respond either on- of off-line. Thanks.

<><><><><><><><<><><><><>
Joyce B. Radcliff
Asst. Professor/Serials Librarian
Tennessee State University /Avon Williams Campus
330 10th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37203-3401
Phone: 615-963-7383
Fax: 615-963-7193
www.tnstate.edu/
<><><><><><><><><<><><><>
"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in
harmony."  Mahatma Gandhi

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Tian Zhang
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 9:43 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] New York Times & Wall St Journal indexes

We only keep our microfilms of these two titles.

Tian Zhang

Serials Librarian
St. John's University Library
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
Tel. 718 990-5082
Fax 718 990-5938
Email: zhangt@stjohns.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Benkwitt, Allison
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 12:22 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] New York Times & Wall St Journal indexes

Hello-

I'm a new serials librarian and dealing with microfilm and index
renewals for the first time.  Our New York Times and Wall Street Journal
microfilm versions are used fairly heavily.  However, our New York Times
and Wall Street Journal indexes are not (3 or fewer uses total in the
last 3 years).  We have electronic full text for both newspapers in our
databases.  What have other academic libraries done with newspaper
indexes?  If we have the microfilm should we keep receiving the indexes?
We don't have unlimited money in our budget and we just finished a 3
year contract that kept our microfilm and index prices the same.  Now
prices will go up 10% each year, unless we commit to our current
spending level and sign another 3 year contract.  I'm inclined to cancel
the index subscriptions but I don't want to throw out a valuable
resource.

We also receive the Accounting & Tax Index (mostly for the Barron's
indexing), and that has had no uses at all.

I'd appreciate any feedback!

Sincerely,

Allison Benkwitt
Reference/Periodicals Librarian
Southern New Hampshire University
2500 N. River Rd.
Manchester, NH 03106
603-668-2211 x2156
a.benkwitt@snhu.edu