We have the Georgetown Medical Center Library Information System (LIS) which
has an internal use function that we have just begun using.  We barcode all
items on receipt (this is a step in the checkin function so the items are
immediately linked to the title) placing the barcode on the outside front cover.
We ask all users not to reshelve material.  Our shelvers are constantly
collecting material from the floors, the copy rooms, etc.  We have terminals
with barcode readers in the reshelving areas and the staff wand the barcode
of each item before reshelving.  The Georgetown system allows us to compile
year-to-date reports of titles used in alphabetical order and rank (most used
to least used) order, and will this month be giving us a function to report
titles not used.

We have only been monitoring internal use since mid-December but preliminary
estimates are that reshelving time is increased by about 3 minutes per truck
load of journals.  While we are optimistic about 1994 funding we want to be
be able to identify titles which could be cancelled with the least negative
impact on current users of the collection.
                                                                        Danny

+       Daniel H. Jones
+       Assistant Library Director for Collection Development
+       Briscoe Library
+       University of Texas Health Science Center
+       7703 Floyd Curl Drive
+       San Antonio, Texas 78284-7940
+       Phone:  210-567-2400
+       Fax:            210-567-2490
+                       BITNET:  JONES@UTHSCSA
                        INTERNET:  JONES@UTHSCSA.EDU