Susan,

In our library we currently subscribe to approx. 2,900 periodical titles,
plus about another 300 _free_ titles.  Until about 2 years ago we kept the
popular titles, or ones like art journals that tend to walk off, behind a
reserve desk where patrons were required to leave their ID card to use
the materials.  Then we reorganized the department, did away with the reserve
desk and created a reading area for the popular titles, with chairs,
coffee tables, plants, etc.  Even when we were keeping those certain titles
behind the reserve desk, it did not totally eliminate the problem of
vandalism, as we didn't check for ripped out pages before giving them back
their ID cards.  There may have been somewhat of a psychological advantage
to keeping them in a special place.  Anyway, as the student assistants stamp
the current issues in preparation for putting them on the shelves, they put
a magnetic security strip in each issue.  This helps keep them in the library
unless the clever patron finds the strip and removes it!

Some ideas to think about.

Sallie Alger
alger@andrews.edu

On Mon, 21 Oct 1996, Smith, Susan D. (WTC) wrote:

> Our library is in an open concept R&D center.  We encourage browsing, and
> shelve the current issues so they actually wrap around the outside wall
> out into a central indoor mall area.  But things have gone too far,
> we're experiencing a lot of missing issues.  We really don't want to put
> them behind the Reference desk, or buy lots of copy 2's, but we need to
> get the message out to the patrons that they just can't walk off with
> the journals.  We may resort to putting the current issues in binders,
> but are looking for alternatives as well.  Any advice?  Any creative
> solutions?  I'd appreciate any help.
>
> Thanks!
> Susan Smith
> Weyerhaeuser Technology Center
> Tacoma, WA
> smiths@wdni.com
>