Rochelle-

The method you have proposed would tell if an item was used or never
used during the trial period, but not how many times it was used.

Are the journals in closed areas and need to be requested from a desk,
or are they on stacks with open access?
	If they are in closed areas, you can keep a tally at the desk of
requests for each item, perhaps having a printed list of each title that
could simply be marked each time something is requested.
	On open stacks, it is more difficult to track.  The only
solution we have found is for the period when you want to track usage,
provide ample signage indicating that a survey is being conducted and
requesting patrons to NOT reshelve items themselves, but rather to place
all items in bins or booktrucks which have been specially marked for
that purpose.  Then, staff can tally each item prior to re-shelving it.
This is not fool-proof, because some people will re-shelve their own
items regardless of how many signs you put up, but it does at least give
a general idea.

Lori Rotterman
Serials Clerk II
Dayton Metro Library

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Rochelle Van Erem
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 2:29 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] Tracking usage of non-circulating periodicals

        At my institution, we do not circulate our journals and they are
not
        barcoded. Could someone provide some ways to track usage?
        We are considering the idea of wrapping them in paper and then
        counting
        broken seals at a later date; has anyone tried that method?

        It sounds messy. Could someone suggest something better?

        Thanks,

        Rochelle Van Erem
        Serials
        St. Norbert College Library
        100 Grant Street
        De Pere, WI 54115 USA
        phone (920) 403-3270
        fax (920) 403-4079

--

Thanks,

Rochelle Van Erem
Serials Specialist
St. Norbert College Library
100 Grant Street
De Pere, WI  54115 USA
phone (920) 403-3270
fax (920) 403-4079