I suppose everyone gets a share of "oddball requests", but I think it's
useful to divide them into "part of the day's work" and "not in my job
description".  The ones that are part of the day's work will vary from place
to place and from  job to job.  Here are the University of Hawaii the Serials
Department is responsible for running the current periodical reading area,
which of course includes newspapers.  We gratefully accept delivery from
anyone who will deliver to us (any distributor, that is).  We receive local
papers in our book drop, USA Today direct to the service counter.  We have a
special deal with the local distributer of Sunday papers from the mainland.
He requires a minimum of 10 copies (need not all be the same title) to
deliver.  We therefore receive 4 papers for the library and 6 additional
copies of the Sunday NY Times which are paid for by six librarians/professors
who love the intellectual one-ups-man-ship of having the Sunday NY Times in a
timely fashion (that pun was unintended!).  Each of these arrangements took
some working out and, when there's a new delivery person, we have to do some
training, but, since it's all in the day's work, the staff person manning the
desk handles it.  On the other hand, we have steadfastly refused the informal
arrangements proposed by the helpful faculty member who says "But I can pick
it up for you and deliver it."  Since it's so obviously NOT in his/her job
description, it's defined as a favor.  And favors only last as long as
they're convenient for the favor-giver.
I would also define stamp-saving as a favor.  I could interpret title-page
copying either way, but if the library chose to include it in the Serials
Department  job description, I'd ask for guidance from the administration
about the level of priority to be assigned to such work.  And I'd be sure
that it received that priority and that the administration knew just what the
cost both in $ and in "other-work-not-done" was.
Having said all that and sounding terribly hard-nosed, I would add that there
may be public relations reasons for the Serials Department to do all sorts of
favors for individuals--professors, potential donors of valuable collections,
etc.  If that's the case, the administration needs to make that clear,
thereby transforming what appears to be a favor into "part of my job."  But
even in those circumstances the costs need to be recognized and allowed for.

Carol Schaafsma
Serials Department
University of Hawaii Library