We are a public library, and have created an Access database list of our
magazine and newspaper holdings, which is found through a link on our
website.  It is available to browse by both the public and staff.  You
can search for a magazine by title, by whether it is a current
subscription or discontinued, by keyword, and by which indexes we carry
which list the title.  These records show whether it is an active
subscription, whether it is a circulating title, and the date ranges we
hold in both microfilm and bound volumes.  Here is the link.
http://www.daytonmetrolibrary.org/MagsForm.cfm

However, the list is cumbersome to maintain, because it is not linked to
any of our other computer files containing similar information or to the
ILS.  This means that when there are changes to our holdings, this is
yet another place in which updated information needs to be input.

Also, our IT department maintains "ownership" of the database, since it
resides on the public web-site, so I am not free to create new
categories, add new fields, generate reports or sub-lists, etc.  I can
only create new records, edit information in existing records, and
delete records (if we discard all holdings of a title).

I hope this helps you.

Lori Rotterman
Serials Clerk
Dayton Metro Library
937-496-8682
lrotterman@daytonmetrolibrary.org

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Karyn Hinkle
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 1:22 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] "Which periodicals does this library subscribe to?"

Dear all --

Do you hear as often as I do from library users asking "Which
periodicals
does this library subscribe to?"

How do you answer them?  In most libraries I've worked in or visited,
the
answer is provided by a printed list (often marked up by pencil) that's
kept
at the reference or periodicals desk, OR the reader is referred to the
library catalog.

In contrast to an annotated paper list or an ILS-generated list (most of
which seem maddeningly incoherent and are fiendishly difficult to make
complete), I'm looking for libraries that provide a single, coherent,
readable list of their periodical titles on their library websites.  I'm
especially interested in libraries that neatly divide the titles into
categories such as titles that are currently subscribed to vs. those in
which historical issues only are held.

Thanks for your advice!

Karyn Hinkle

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Karyn Hinkle
Reader Services Librarian
Bard Graduate Center for
Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture

hinkle@bgc.bard.edu
tel: + 212.501.3035

2008 - 2009 mailing address:
Bard Graduate Center
Library at Bard Hall
410 W. 58th Street
New York, NY 10019

fax: + 212.501.3093
http://www.bgc.bard.edu/library

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