3 messages, 88 lines:
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Date: Tue, 23 Aug 1994 10:02:55 PDT
From: Linda Seekamp <lseekamp@STMARYS-CA.EDU>
Subject: Re: help in claiming periodicals
This is in reply to the person in Alaska wondering if their periodical
person is as efficient as possible, especially with regard to claiming
missing issues.
A few years ago, managing the periodicals function became part of my job.
One thing I would advise you - despite the lack of time - is to have your
periodicals assistant teach you her job. This was the most valuable thing
I did (particularly since I've experienced a bit of turnover and actually
had to hire, train and do the job for awhile on top of reference,
instruction, collection development etc responsibilities). You will be
amazed at the incredible amount of time and the level of attention to
detail needed. Make sure she tells you why she does each step (for
example - some publishers require our jobber to supply photocopies
of duplicate labels if we are claiming that we are receiving two copies).
We've also found that consulting with our jobber (maybe the next level up
from the account rep) about the most efficient way to claim, for example,
has helped us eliminate unnecessary steps.
Here at Saint Mary's we subscribe to less than half the number of
periodicals you do (1100) and have a larger staff - 35 hour/week
Periodicals Assistant, 10 hour/week clerk, and 50 hours/week student
assistance. They do have some additional responsibilities: filing
reference and legal updates, processing new books and we home bind our
periodicals.
Again, I think you should attempt to do the job yourself for awhile and not
only will your assistant have more respect for your knowledge, but then you
can put your two heads together to figure out ways to be more efficient.
Linda Seekamp lseekamp@stmarys-ca.edu
Saint Mary's College Library phone (510) 631-4229
PO Box 4290 or 631-4234
Moraga, CA 94575-4290 fax (510) 376-6097
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Date: Tue, 23 Aug 1994 09:28:55 -0700
From: Mitch Turitz <TURITZ@MERCURY.SFSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: help in claiming periodicals
Debbie:
two observations:
1.) You are comparing a medium sized university library to a small
public library, which will have very different subscriptions; and
2.) The public library only has 600 titles vs. 3000 in your collection
- a difference of a factor of 5.
I suggest that you ask the clerk to train you in what she does for one
week (no less) so that you can get a real feel for the complexity of the
job. Every library is different in their procedures, but there are usually
good reasons for why those procedures are in place (don't settle for the
old lint, "because we've always done it that way").
Serials are MUCH more complicated than monographs, so don't fall into
the trap of trying to compare statistics of monographic output to serials!
_^_ _^_
( ___ )-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-( ___ )
| | | |
| | Mitch Turitz, Serials Librarian | |
| | San Francisco State University Library | |
| | Internet: turitz@sfsu.edu | |
| | | |
( ___ )-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-==-( ___ )
V V
Rule #1: Don't let the small stuff upset you.
Rule #2: It's ALL small stuff.
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Date: Tue, 23 Aug 1994 13:38:51 EST
From: Glenda Armstrong <GARMSTRO@INDYCMS.BITNET>
Subject: Re: help in claiming periodicals
I have worked with serials for many years. It does sound as though "something"
is wrong. For one thing, it should not take 3 days to go through the Faxon
claims. We use Microlinx, have approx. 4300 titles and it takes our clerk most
of one day to go through the claims when there are a lot. Duplicate mailing
labels are nice but are too time consuming. The few times that they are needed
make them too expensive to collect. (i.e. It may be more efficient and cheaper
to just purchase those titles that require mailing labels and not spend time
collecting, filing, and keeping track of.) Serials are difficult to understand
at times. Maybe your person is focusing on one aspect and not seeing the big
picture. Good luck.
