4 messages, 91 lines:

(1)-------------------------
Date:         Mon, 26 Feb 1996 15:32:12 -0500
From:         Pamela Bluh <pbluh@UMABNET.AB.UMD.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Shelf list -maintained or not?

Here at the University of Maryland Thurgood Marshall Law Library, we
closed our shelf a couple of years ago.  The only dissenting voice was
that of our cataloger.  We haven't experienced any major problems and
it's saved a lot of staff time in terms of filing and refiling cards.  We
haven't gotten rid of the drawers of cards yet although I can see that
day coming one day in the not too distant future.

Pamela Bluh

(2)----------------------
Date:         Mon, 26 Feb 1996 15:42:27 -0500
From:         JUDITH HOPKINS AT SUNY BUFFALO <ULCJH@UBVMS.CC.BUFFALO.EDU>
Organization: University at Buffalo
Subject:      Re: Shelf list -maintained or not?

   The question of whether libraries are maintaining their shelflists
(cards) after getting an online system and converting their old records
has been repeatedly discussed on AUTOCAT, the most recent discussion
having been within the last month or two.    A search of the AUTOCAT
archives would retrieve numerous messages on this topic.

   While a few libraries are clinging to their card shelflists my
impression is that most have discarded them.  My own library stopped
acquiring cards years ago and we are discarding older ones once we
are sure that that class has been entirely converted and that the
electronic records contain up-to-date holdings information.

***************************************************************************
Judith Hopkins                                    716 - 645-2796 (phone)
Technical Services Research and Analysis Officer  716 - 645-5955 (FAX)
Lockwood Library Building
University at Buffalo                   ULCJH@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU
Buffalo, NY  14260-2200                 Listowner of AUTOCAT@UBVM. ...

   The opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily
       represent those of the University at Buffalo Libraries
****************************************************************************

(3)----------------------------
Date:         Mon, 26 Feb 1996 22:07:50 -0500
From:         Craig Fairley <fairley@TAP.NET>
Subject:      Re: Shelf list -maintained or not?

By all means, dump it.  My experience is that if there is any resistance to
eliminating the shelf list, it is the security blanket syndrome you are
dealing with.  Staff who resist its loss often cannot give you a rational
reson why it should be kept.  If this is a problem, move it out of the wayin
an awkward place and just see how much it is used.  I bet it won't be.  I
have also seen libraries use the dumping of the shelf list as a publicity
tool, emphasizing that the libray is now in the computer age with the rest
of the world.

A small caveat, though.  Check to see if there is hand-written information
in it that did not get put into your online database.  Put it online if you
think it is important, then dump it.
_________________________________________________________________
Craig Fairley
Information Dynamics
2165 Margot Street
Oakville, Ontario
Canada
L6H 3M5
(905) 842-1406

"Services in Information and Process Management"

(4)-----------------------
Date:         Tue, 27 Feb 1996 08:18:37 EST
From:         Charles Tremper <CFTREMPE@HAWK.SYR.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Shelf list -maintained or not?
Comments: To: "Randi L. Ashton-Pritting" <pritting@UHAVAX.HARTFORD.EDU>

We have not only stopped producing shelflist cards (except for
accession number sequences, like microfilms and computer files), but
are gradually dismantling the shelflist and discarding cards as
titles and holdings are transferred to our online system.  We are
also discarding serials holdings cards once they are transferred
online.

Charles Tremper
Head, serials unit
Syracuse University library