We have two separate collections, general and theology. The general
collection is shelved by call number, and the theology collection is
shelved by title. Shelving by title makes it easier for the patron to
find a title, since they do not have to look up the call number.
Shelving by call number does allow for grouping by subject, for
browsing that way. Another major advantage in shelving by call number
is that when the title changes you can keep the earlier and later
titles together. If you shelve by title, you have to put out
"dummies" to lead people to changes of title. You do have to label
each issue if you shelve by call number, but we print labels during
our checkin process, for both collections, and all issues have a
label on them.

Pat Thompson

At 04:32 PM 7/25/2008, you wrote:
>Ours are organized by LC classification.  The current issues are in the
>reading room (generally the current year), and the past years are bound and
>shelved in the stacks by their LC classification.  It does allow for
>browsing by topic.  The problem is if we pick up or drop many, we have to
>rearrange the shelves as the shelved are labeled.  We also have to print a
>label with the classification information and put on the cover of the issue.
>This is a little more work than just shelving by alpha.
>
>
>Tracey Thompson
>Acquisitions Librarian
>New Mexico State University Library
>MSC 3475 P.O. Box 30006
>Las Cruces, NM 88003-8006
>(p) 575-646-8093
>(f) 575-646-7477
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
>[mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Wilma Dague
>Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 1:47 PM
>To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
>Subject: [SERIALST] How do you arrange your periodicals?
>
>We're under going some construction at our library, so I have the
>opportunity to rethink the way our periodicals are presented. Previously
>we've had them arranged in rough alphabetical order, but I was thinking of
>organizing them by topic-except some topics might overlap. But then Bible
>Today would be near Theology Today for example and it would seem to
>facilitate browsing. How do you all organize your periodicals? What problems
>have you encountered?
>
>Best regards,
>
>Wilma Weant Dague
>Serials  Coordinator
>Benedictine College Library
>1020 North 2nd St.
>Atchison, KS 66002
>
>
>(913) 360-7610
>wdague@benedictine.edu<mailto:wdague@benedictine.edu>

Patricia R. Thompson
Assistant University Librarian for Resource Management Services
Jessie Ball duPont Library
The University of the South
Sewanee, TN 37383
Phone: 931-598-1657
Email: pthompso@sewanee.edu