At Va. Commonwealth University, we handle annuals similarly to the way Sandra
Lindberg describes the situation at Xavier. And we have no plans to change
that arrangement. Granted, the patrons discover a reference to an annual
in an index and assume that it will be treated like a journal. And if they
went to our nonclassified bound journals, they would probably not find it
there. *But* (and it's a big but), they need to be aware that information
about that annual title will be in the automated system, along with the
location, call no., and our holdings. And I would hope that patrons who do
not find something in a particular location where they *think* it should be
would make another stab at it before they give up. And before I start to
hear all of the negative feedback from other people telling me that that's
not how patrons use libraries, I am aware of the voluminous literature
dealing with that topic. It all boils down to patron education. Personally,
I would not consider unclassifying our annuals in the hope that more patrons
would be able to find titles serendipitously (sp?). I would prefer to add
some additional, helpful directional signage in the bound journal stacks.
Enough said. It just happens to be a topic that I feel strongly about.
Steve Murden
Va. Commonwealth University