Hi Julie!

We stopped binding print periodicals about 4 or 5 years ago and we only claim sporadically. We haven’t really encountered any problems with either decision. We still have about 800 print periodical titles, although that number will probably be reduced again next year. I’ve read the Anderson/Zink article and think it makes some really good points. The one thing from the article that really stood out for me was the idea of continually examining workflow policies and assessing their purpose. I think this makes sense even when we are not dealing with budgetary limitations. For now, we still find it beneficial to continue checking in our periodicals. At our library, a student does the check-in and our tech handles any complex titles. As we direct more of our staffing to electronic resources, however, I will be looking at how we can best utilize our student labor—which might include giving up check-in.

Good luck!

Christie

Christie Ericson

Electronic Resources/Serials Librarian

Consortium Library

University of Alaska Anchorage

3211 Providence Drive

Anchorage, AK 99508

(907) 786-1990

Fax: (907) 786-4639

anlce@uaa.alaska.edu

From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Julie Moore
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 2:15 AM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] Cease claiming, checking in, binding

Dear Serial Friends,

Due to a drastic staff reduction with no relief in sight (thanks be to our current economic crisis in CA), I am being asked to look at some fairly drastic measures to streamline our process. (Something's gotta give!)  The majority of our serials have been flipped from print to online; therefore, the focus of our human (and other) resources is put toward these electronic resources. We still do have 750+ print serial titles. One idea that has been floated is to cease the claiming, checking in, and binding of paper periodicals.

I recently read an aritcle: "Implementing the Unthinkable: The Demise of Periodical Check-in at the University of Nevada." by Rick Anderson and Steven D. Zink. Library Collections, Acquisitions & Technical Services 27 (2003) 61-71. It is a compelling article to do just that.

I would be very interested to hear if anyone else has done this. If so, how has it gone? What has the public services reaction been? What has the reaction been by the patrons?

Thanks kindly,

Julie Moore

--
Julie Renee Moore
Catalog Librarian
California State University, Fresno
julie.renee.moore@gmail.com
559-278-5813

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." -- J.M. Barrie