----------(1)
>From ppicerno@choctaw.astate.edu Wed Mar 22 15:26:23 2000
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 10:15:57 -0600
From: Peter Picerno <ppicerno@choctaw.astate.edu>
Subject: Re: Serials module to kardex (Diane Lewis)

I would reply that this, and the other discussion, affirms the fact that
the main benefit of *any* ILS is to the end-user -- ie., our patrons! What
we are faced with is coming to the realization that the benefits of
communication (in terms of library holdings, in this instance) are very
great -- no doubt ILL, distance-ed students, faculty who are agoraphobic,
and others who cannot physically rummage through our shelves can now do so
in a virtual way. The cost, and I use this term with caution because it is
real, for this extra service and accessibility is an increase in staff
time as well as the cost of the ILS itself. I find, however, that too many
advocates for library budgets forget to factor these costs into their
requests, and, coupled with the fact that some administrators are under
the delusion that everything virtual or electronic is paid for with
virtual monies (i.e., it's on the net therefore it's free), we have to pay
the price for extra services by having to sometimes actually cut the costs
of our materials acquisition budgets. It would be nice if those in
positions of authority (in terms of budgeting) were aware that these extra
services which are demanded as 'normal' simply eat up more cash than they
did before libraries offered them. In order to make this case we would
have to affirm that (a) most electronic and technology is more costly than
it's print or pre-technological counterparts, (b) if budgets have not
risen in tandem with the incurrence of these costs, we have actually, in
some instances, had to offer less information (read: service) in other
ways and areas, and (c) libraries are now doing at least three more things
than they did before computerization, yet few libraries have seen
corresponding increases in operating or personnel budgets. End of sermon!

P Picerno

[Original message]

The posters to this discussion who wrote paeans to the efficiency
of automated checkin as opposed to manual must work in libraries
only receiving consistently regular, easily predictable serial titles.

When we initially migrated to our present powerful and
sophisticated ILS from a standalone serials system and a Kardex,
the serials staff were gung-ho to get every title set up for online
checkin. I hemmed and hawed, reluctant to jump into the
beckoning waters.  At the staff's request, we switched some titles
back to manual checkin, because prediction was so difficult.

Now we have about 7,000 titles set up and checkin does go pretty
quickly.  However, title changes, irregular series, and the resultant
setup work consume much more time than when we just changed
the title on a card and made brief notes.

Please don't get me wrong--I celebrate the benefits of an integrated
serials system.  It is gratifying to be able to provide a remote user
with up-to-the-minute serials information.  Or print an on-demand,
customized list of current serial titles.  I just would caution that
automation requires beaucoup more staff time devoted to data input
and manipulation.

Diane M. Lewis
Serial Records Librarian
U.S. Geological Survey Library
National Center--MS 950
Reston, Virginia  20192
phone: (703)648-4399 fax:   (703)648-6376
"Intelligence, not perhaps at its highest level, but far
beyond the sheer emotionalism of TV, has found its
refuge in the newspapers."--Robertson Davies

----------(2)
>From dharrell@westga.edu Wed Mar 22 15:26:23 2000
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 11:32:37 -0500 (EST)
From: Deborah Harrell <dharrell@westga.edu>
Subject: Re: Serials module to kardex (Diane Lewis)

I would heartily agreee that there is no way I would go back to a Kardex,
but when automation of library services first emerged (early 1980s?) it
was said to make life much easier for those of us in technical services.
That has certainly been a lie.  I just spent the last 1 1/2 hours getting
a specific title's prediction set up.  Multiply that by number of
non-standard titles and I could have checked in hundreds on a Kardex in
the same time.

The real time expense is in setting up the records.  For the most part,
after a title is set up correctly, checkins flow smoothly.  (We automated
serials in 1992 and migrated to a new system last November.)

Weigh the differences.  If you are using a Kardex and don't already have
an ILS, you might want to wait.  But if you already have an ILS and it
works well, going back to non-automation of serials might not produce
the desired results in service to your patrons.

Debbie Harrell
Ingram Library, State University of West Georgia
phone: 770-836-6498
fax: 770-836-6626

----------(3)
>From chobot@PLAINS.NODAK.EDU Wed Mar 22 15:26:23 2000
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 10:30:50 -0600
From: Karen Chobot <chobot@PLAINS.NODAK.EDU>
Subject: Re: Serials module to kardex (Diane Lewis)

At 10:48 AM 03/22/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>The posters to this discussion who wrote paeans to the efficiency
>of automated checkin as opposed to manual must work in libraries
>only receiving consistently regular, easily predictable serial titles.
>
Sorry to disappoint you, but of course you have to know that couldn't
possibly be true.  I think my point that I made in the beginning response
is the most important one - that adjusting your work flow and procedures to
take into account the fact that things WILL have problems is the most
important aspect of working with either paper or computer.  What we *do*
have is a very good serials module, PALS, that can accomodate a good
variety of types and problems.  Our consortium needs to migrate, and we are
having trouble finding a serials module that is as flexible.   In any case,
I still would not want to go back to paper, because I believe that on the
whole, a computerized module does the most amount of work in the fastest
possible way.  It is not true for every piece of the work, but there are
always trade offs.  And as several other people pointed out, you find it
possible to do some things you simply never would do if all you had was the
kardex.  This to be what allows us to give excellent service all the way
around.

Karen M. Chobot, MS, MLS
Reference/Serials Librarian
Mildred Johnson Library
North Dakota State College of Science
800 N. 6th St.
Wahpeton ND 58076
701/671-2385

"I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre and
outside the conventions and humdrum routine of daily life."  Sherlock
Holmes, in "The Red-Headed League."