I too, measure and create a spreadsheet.  I exported all of my titles and their status from my ILS into a spreadsheet.  My columns includes title, status, limited retention years, total inches, last years growth,  current inches needed, total shelves needed, starting shelf number for each title and ending shelf number for each title.  The formulas enable to me to tweak the years of growth to evenly disperse my space.

 I create shelf number labels for the 1st shelf of each section.  This helps me be sure that I am on target with my allocations of space.
Good measurement is the key, so take the time to do it correctly.

Sally

Sally Smith
Bethel University Library/Serials Dept.
3900 Bethel Drive  St. Paul, MN 55112
Phone:  651-635-8544   Fax:  651-635-2393
http://www.library.bethel.edu/

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Ian Woodward
Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 8:10 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Shifting and reorganizing

You should undertake a census of the growth rate of each of your
active titles and of the stock of space already occupied.  I did this
nine years ago with a collection that had about 1,500 active titles
and 2,700 closed titles and doing all the measures myself.  It might
have taken 200 hours or it might have taken half that, I do not
remember.    With a bloc of concientous and properly trained work
study students, it can be done in a few weeks.  IW

On Sat, Sep 26, 2009 at 3:59 PM, Buck, Marguerite <mbuck@immaculata.edu> wrote:
> We are reorganizing and shifting back issues of our print collection. The
> weeding is done and we are trying to decide how much space to leave for
> active titles before we start shifting.  Is there a recommended amount of
> shelf space? Fortunately we are not short of space at the moment.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Marguerite
>
>
>
> Marguerite Buck, MSLS
>
> Serials Librarian
>
> Gabriele Library
>
> Immaculata University
>
> 1145 King Road
>
> Immaculata, PA 19345
>
> 610-6474400, Ext. 3833
>
> mbuck@immaculata.edu

--
I. Woodward
Serials Desk
Colgate University Libraries
Case Library and Geyer Center for Information Technology
13 Oak Drive
Hamilton, N.Y. 13346

Ph.:   315-228-7306
Fax:   315-228-7934

I haven't gone anywhere.  I'm employed.  -  Joe DiMaggio  [att.]