Hi Carolyn:

I have been using MS Access to track our journals, locate missing issues
and email claims to our subscription agent (Ebsco)and this has been
working fairly well over the years.  I have also used it to store all
kinds of information (ISSN #, frequency, holdings info, subjects, last
issue received etc.) and used it to publish a hardcopy guide to our
periodicals collection.  Its cheap!, compared to other online systems
and amazingly flexible, once you learn how to use it.  And it acts more
like a database I think,and with greater flexibility than Excel.

It is a bit difficult to learn, since it does have so much flexibility
and is extremely powerful.  I would recommend going to a workshop on how
to use it, if your budget allows.  There are also lots of books, but I
found the workshops more useful, if you get someone good, to get you
started.

Feel free to email me back, if you have further questions.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Carolyn Ruby
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 3:50 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] Stand alone serials software?

Help!  We don't have a serials control program with our current ILS and
I recently discovered records for periodical publications have been kept
in three different places and three different ways.  Since we don't have
an acquisitions budget (!) all of our periodicals are donations.  With a
recent reduction in staff I am now responsible for two of the periodical
collections and am working towards taking on the third.  I'd prefer to
automate this all in one database.  Before I look at setting up a
database on my own I wondered if anyone can recommend a free or
inexpensive alternative. (I work for the State, enough said?)  They've
been using a Kardex, Excel, and Word to track the different collections.
All have been very basic and impossible to really see where we have
gaps.

Any suggestions would be gratefully accepted!

Thank you!

Carolyn Ruby
Library Assistant

Idaho State Historical Society
Public Archives and Research Library
2205 Old Penitentiary Rd.
Boise,  ID  83712
208-514-2327 - phone
208-334-3198 - fax

The Idaho State Historical Society is an extraordinary system of
cultural and historic resources comprised of the Idaho State Historical
Museum, Public Archives and Research Library, State Historic
Preservation Office, and Historic Sites Program. We seek to inspire,
enrich and engage all Idahoans by leading the state in preserving and
sharing our diverse and dynamic cultural heritage. Learn more about ISHS
at www.idahohistory.net.