Re: Print Journal Usage Carmel Yurochko 30 Apr 2004 13:13 UTC
Hello Rachel, Here at Duquesne University, we have used the "sweep" method to gather usage statistics on our print journals for a number of years. All of our journals are available to the public. Routinely throughout the day, staff picks up the unbound journals from tables and the area by the photocopiers. We have an ACCESS database file of all of these titles. We do not define "use". We do not attempt to discover how the journals were used, we just take the fact that since they were not on their shelves, they were used. We simply enter a "one" or add "one" to the present statistic in the file. We also attempted another method a while ago. We were "taping" our currents shut w/folder labels, and posted instructions for patrons to break the labels to use. We would then use the sweep method and once a week go through all of the currents to see which labels were broken. This was less than successful for us because our budget prevented us from using the correct labels and we were forced to use what we had on hand. They were old and some of the labels were releasing before they even hit the current journal shelves. Needless to say, our statistics were over the top and less than accurate. We have used our use statistics to make cancellation decisions. We were once confronted w/faculty to did not agree w/our statistics and so we moved a select number of titles into a secure area. Anyone wishing to use them had to fill in a form at the front desk. We then compiled usage statistics for these titles and cancelled them because the cost per use did not justify our keeping them. The faculty was still unhappy but we had secure numbers to back up our decisions. Hope this helps. Good luck, Carmel Yurochko ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Carmel Yurochko Serials/Electronic Resources Librarian Psychology Dept. Liaison Duquesne University The Gumberg Library 600 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15282 412.396-5233 fax 412.396-5639 yurochko@library.duq.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Rachel Ellis Sent: Friday, April 30, 2004 4:44 AM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: [SERIALST] Print Journal Usage Dear all, at the moment we are considering how to measure the usage of our print journal collection. We have a journal reading room here for the current issues - one part of the room is presented subject focussed and is freely accessible by our patrons. The remaining journals are in the back of the room and the issues wanted have to be fetched by the enquiry staff located in the reading room. Now I was wondering if anyone of you has experiences with print journal usage analysis and is willing to share this with us? Thanks for your help in advance and best wishes from sunny Bremen (Germany)! Rachel --------------------------------------------------- Rachel Ellis Electronic Resources Librarian Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Bremen Postfach 33 01 60 28331 Bremen Germany Tel: (0049)421-218-4902 Fax: (0049)421-218-2665 --------------------------------------------------