Re: Your comments appreciated, or to class or not to class periodical collection Cynthia Swope 06 Jul 2006 18:08 UTC
I agree with Buddy that it is critical to survey the users. So many times library decisions are made without adequate input from them. But I also have to add that if I surveyed user preference at my library on LC or title arrangement, no one would care. 90% of all our journal usage is electronic. Is this because I'm at a medical library or do other libraries have a similar ratio? Maybe another factor to consider before reclassification would be the future of print journals in your library. Cindy Swope Himmelfarb Health Science Library George Washington University Washington, DC 20037 mlbcds@gwumc.edu >>> bmaclenn@UVM.EDU 7/6/2006 1:32 PM >>> Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2006 13:22:59 -0400 From: "Rouillard, Marilee" <mrouilla@keene.edu> Subject: RE: [SERIALST] Your comments appreciated, or to class or not to class periodical collection I did do a survey before we switched to the classification system. The results were exactly even, until someone came in with a survey as I finished counting them and asked if I could accept it. I did so it tipped the survey. I also surveyed the staff and the literature. Opinion was very evenly divided. I now have the periodicals in LC order with a large browsing room where the current periodicals are displayed in alcoves. Each alcove has a table and 4 chairs. It was the right call here. Marilee Rouillard <mrouilla@keene.edu> -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Pennington, Buddy D. Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 10:41 AM Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Your comments appreciated, or to class or not to class periodical collection Good points toward not classifying. I remember my student days when I would do my research to get my citations and then spend a bunch of time getting the call numbers for the journals since my library classified things. It would have been easier if I could simply find them by title. Integration also spreads things out (all of our separate periodicals are on one floor but if we integrated them into the classified monographs they would be on three floors). That means more time wandering around for users and serials staff. We all have our opinions on this. I was just wondering if anyone has surveyed users on the organization of a library's physical periodicals to get a sense of whether they prefer them to be classified or shelved by title. It seems to me that libraries don't do enough to understand what users want and prefer. Too often we think we know what's best for them. If you're going to spend the time and effort on a project like that you should be sure it is something the users want to see changed. Buddy Pennington Serial Acquisitions Librarian University of Missouri - Kansas City University Libraries www.umkc.edu/lib