This is a very distant memory of @ 30 years ago ....
We referred to ours as the "linedex" (alphabetical single or multi-line
entries for journal titles and associated holdings--included location
information, lines with x-refs, etc.).  I believe we used different
colored strips. Every time we added a new subscription these had to be
shifted. When holdings changed they had to be re-typed. I can't recall
if using an electric eraser worked since it would be difficult to put a
single strip into the typewriter but I do recall that we had a specific
typewriter for linedex entries.

Lynn K. Cote
Serials Cataloger
Collections Services, U-2005
University of Connecticut
Homer Babbidge Library
369 Fairfield Rd.
Storrs, CT  06269-2005
ph. (860)486-6495
fax (860)486-6493
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-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Tom Evans
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 1:54 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] What was this serials technology called?

Is it not a kardex?

Sincerely,
Tom Evans
Serials Librarian
Canisius College Library
2001 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14208
email: evans@canisius.edu
Phone: 716-888-2932
Fax: 716-888-2887

---- Original message ----
>Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:13:30 -0700
>From: Cheryl Boettcher Tarsala <c-tarsala@LINKLINE.COM>
>Subject: [SERIALST] What was this serials technology called?
>To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
>
>This is a somewhat recreational question, but perhaps the list would
>be willing to weigh in on it.
>
>I've been cruising flickr looking for cataloging images for my blog,
>and found this one:
>
>http://www.flickr.com/photos/meliroo/444411917/in/set-72157600043671337
/
>
>I realized that it's a mysterious, lost technology that I don't know
>anything about.  What on earth was it called?  I struggle to think of
>keywords to even Google it!
>
>I'm old enough to remember them in use, but never personally worked
>with them. How did all the little cardboard strips fit into the
>typewriter so you could type on them? Do you pull off the top metal
>strip of the holder and drop the strips into each side? And, I
>suppose you have to shift all the strips each time you get a new line
>...?
>
>Any insight into the workings of these things from long-time
>serialists would be appreciated!
>--
>Cheryl Boettcher Tarsala
>Adjunct Assistant Professor
>LEEP Program, Graduate School of Library and Information Science
>University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
>
>c-tarsala@linkline.com
>ctarsala@uiuc.edu
>
>The views expressed here are my own and not those of UIUC or GSLIS.