We've taken a somewhat different approach by establishing a small browsing collection of current issues.  We selected about 70 periodical titles that folks typically want to browse - the usual Time, Newsweek, US News, Economist, Scientific American, Popular Photography, etc. and display those issues from the current year in an area with comfortable chairs and sofas.  There appears to be regular activity in that area.

All other current issues go directly to the shelves and are housed in pamphlet files until they are bound or replaced by some other format (microform, JSTOR, etc.)  All of our microfilm and microfiche are shelved with the bound volumes, so there really is only one location for a journal title.  We also use shelf magnets to alert patrons to titles that have migrated to online only.

The titles that are in the browsing collection are indicated with that location in our online catalog and in our A-to-Z list.

Ultimately, it seems that this new arrangement (about 2 years old) is much less confusing for our students and faculty alike.  Initially, there was a bit of grumbling from some faculty who thought it took too much time to go to the third floor of the library to find the current issues.  I am not aware of any student complaints.

Good luck with your discussion/decision.

Sue Beidler
Snowden Library
Lycoming College
700 College Place
Williamsport PA 17701

phone: 570-321-4084
fax:      570 321-4090
email: beidler@lycoming.edu

>>> Mary Logue <mlogue@WESTMONT.EDU> 8/29/2008 2:27 PM >>>
I have searched the archives and did not see any recent discussion on this
topic (maybe I didn't search well enough), but I'm wondering what other
libraries are doing about displaying current issues of their print
periodicals. We are going to have a discussion about whether this is
something should continue or not and I was hoping to have insights from
others before we discussed it as a library here. I have listed some of the
questions/concerns I have about displaying current issues of periodicals. We
are an academic library, but I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who
would like to respond.

1. Do you still display current issues of your periodicals? Why? If you
don't display current issues, why not?

2. If you display, what do you do about titles you purchase online only?
Have patrons been confused because a title they were looking for is not on
the current issue display because it is only available online?
3. If you display, do you display all your print titles, or how do you
determine what to display?
4. If you display, how do you display them?
5. If you do not display your current issues, how have the
faculty/staff/students reacted to not having them displayed?
6. Any other insights/comments you may have if you've already had this
conversation on your campus.

I appreciate any and all comments.

Thanks,

Mary

Mary Logue
Assistant Librarian
Westmont College, Voskuyl Library
955 La Paz Road Santa Barbara, CA 93108
805-565-6144