Date: Tue, 08 Jul 1997 14:29:44 -0400
From: JEAN GORMAN <JGORMAN@VERMONTLAW.EDU>
Subject: Serials Claiming

Hello Everyone,
I'm interested to learn if others are experiencing the same situation
I am regarding the increase in the number of claims being sent out
and the time necessary to resolve them.
Are you in a similar situation?

Our library has about 1000 journal subscriptions.  Two years ago I
had about 15 open claims at any given time.  This past fiscal year
that number has jumped to 50-70 open claims, and they seem to need
more effort to get them resolved.  The total number of claims I've
resolved has jumped from 74 in 1994 to 164 this year.  I've gone from
spending a day or so per month on claiming to spending more than a
week of each month.  (And I'm getting increasingly frustrated because
the results seem so slow!)

Our library has automated during this period but I'm not sure how
this has contributed to the increase.  Have others of you had this
happen after automation?  Do you feel you are currently getting the
same service from your vendors and other suppliers as in the past?

Please reply to me personally and if there's interest I can summarize
to the list.
Thanks,
Jean C. Gorman
Serials Assistant
Vermont Law School Library
S. Royalton,  VT  05068
802-763-8303 ext. 2439
jgorman@vermontlaw.edu