4 messages, 185 lines: (1)--------------------------- Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 08:49:00 -0600 From: Dena Luce <dluce@FAULKNER.EDU> Organization: Faulkner University Subject: Re: How long do you keep trying on BACKSERV? Sunee, what I can't get from Ebsco's missing copy bank I request on BACKSERV. I then will make a couple of requests for items, waiting 6 months to a year usually for responses. We will usually just bind without the issues if we haven't been able to obtain them within a year of the initial request. Dena Lahue Luce, M.L.S. (334) 260-6209 phone Public Services Librarian (334) 260-6299 fax Faulkner University dluce@faulkner.edu Gus Nichols Library 5345 Atlanta Hwy. Montgomery, AL 36109-3398 (2)--------------------------- Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 10:32:10 -0500 From: Carol Feustel <FEUSTECS@UCMAIL.UC.EDU> Subject: Re: How long do you keep trying on BACKSERV? Comments: cc: SuneeGrima@AOL.COM Dear Sunee and other Serialsters, I've been a participant in Backserv/Backmed since its inception and I LOVE it. You have asked several good questions in past messages, which I will answer with my 'standard procedure.' 1. Postage: You can use the postage paid labels if you wish, but most of us began by purchasing a supply of stamps and just trading the stamps. Most libraries request their shipments be sent Library Rate (1 pound for $1.12, $.41 for each additional pound) as it is substantially cheaper than First Class (1 pound is over $3.00). I have a cost list from our post office and a scale and put my own stamps on all packages except those going out of the country. Those going out of the country are sent Surface Rate and the postage money comes from our department's account. Many libraries reimbursed with current First Class stamps. I use these for my regular work letter mailings and also sell them to staff members for their personal use. I sold many, many excess 1c stamps to library staff members when the postage increased this month. The money I receive from selling stamps goes into purchasing more $1 for my shipping and reimbursements. 2. Checking the lists: As many have stated, check them daily and respond PROMPTLY if you find something you need. It's amazing how quickly issues can be snatched up. Searching the Archives is usually not successful for the same reason, that issues are claimed quickly. 3. How long do you keep trying: USBE recommends waiting 3 months between requesting an issue a second (or more) time. Using this guideline, I send a "wish list" to USBE about every 3 months. I keep searching the lists until I receive the issue either from the list or from USBE. I only send a wish list to other dealers annually as their issues cost substantially more. Our policy is to try for five years to replace the issue, then bind incomplete. Exceptions are made as appropriate to the title, eg: newsletters are not replaced, we'll try longer for heavily used titles. 4. When you are ready to place an available or needed list on Backserv, use the format that most participants use. In your subject line use either AVAILABLE or NEEDED as your first word, whichever is appropriate. After the first word, tell what the list contains; eg: AVAILABLE: A-C AVAILABLE: Journal of Biological Chemistry NEEDED: Lancet In the body of your message clearly list the issues available or needed. J. American Medical Association v.281 #1 1999 Newsweek v.1 #1 1999 If your available issues are in any condition other than pristine, state the condition. We will accept issues with writing on the cover or ones that have successfully survived a short stay in the library collection if we know at the time of request, but most others are not wanted. Trust me-no one wants damaged issues of any kind. If you wouldn't put them in your own collection because of their condition, throw them away. I hope these tips help you in successfully using a wonderful service from Readmore/Blackwells. Feel free to contact me direct if you have further questions. Sincerely, Carol, the Journal Goddess (as I'm known on Backmed) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Wise People Still Seek Him ======================================================= Carol S. Feustel phone: 513-558-0179 Serials Specialist fax: 513-558-1709 Medical Center Libraries email: <mailto:carol.feustel@ucmail.uc.edu> carol.feustel@uc.edu PO Box 670574 231 Bethesda Ave. Opinions expressed are mine, not my Cincinnati, OH 45267-0574 employer's. The -Original- Journal Goddess. Accept no imitations. (3)--------------------------- Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 10:38:37 -0500 From: Carol Feustel <FEUSTECS@UCMAIL.UC.EDU> Subject: Re: How long do you keep trying on BACKSERV? Darn-I knew I'd forget something! When replying to a posting on the list, reply DIRECTLY to the sender. Do NOT reply to the list itself or you risk encountering the irritation of fellow listmembers. Be prepared for humorous, even goofy, messages. Many of us creative with our messages, which is why I use Journal Goddess as my signature. Don't be surprised to see issues offered for adoption, or requests for issues that went AWOL. The humor puts a smile on the reader's face and is good for your health. Th-th-that's it folks! Carol, the Journal Goddess ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Wise People Still Seek Him ======================================================= Carol S. Feustel phone: 513-558-0179 Serials Specialist fax: 513-558-1709 Medical Center Libraries email: <mailto:carol.feustel@ucmail.uc.edu> carol.feustel@uc.edu PO Box 670574 231 Bethesda Ave. Opinions expressed are mine, not my Cincinnati, OH 45267-0574 employer's. The -Original- Journal Goddess. Accept no imitations. (4)--------------------------- Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 15:05:48 -0500 From: "Geraldine H. Wescott" <wescott@LYCO.LYCOMING.EDU> Subject: Re: How long do you keep trying on BACKSERV? Hi Sunee Since I don't have a budget to buy missing issues from USBE, I keep trying to find the missing issues on backserv or backmed forever! While I'm waiting for the missing issues to show up, I 'home-bind' the volume and mark it 'incomplete'. I have a small 3x5 filing box divided alphabetically filled with the titles and their issues I'm looking for. As I'm notified someone is sending me an issue, I tick it. When it *actually* comes in the mail, I cross it off. works for me. Gerre ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * Gerre Wescott-Periodicals Technician <wescott@lycoming.edu> * ~ Lycoming College voice - 570-321-4089 ~ * Snowden Library fax - 570-321-4090 * ~ 700 College Place campus box #141 ~ * Williamsport PA 17701-5192 'Dux femina facti' * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ On Wed, 27 Jan 1999, Sunee Grima wrote: > HI, > > If we use BACKSERV to locate the missing issues and not find what we want, > how long do you keep trying before giving up and decide to buy them from > USBE, or bind them as they are. Perhaps, those with more experience than I > will share their expertise. > > Thank you for your help. > > Sunee Grima > > Acquisitions/Serials Coordinator > Weber State University > > sgrima@weber.edu