Re: What would YOU say to this disgruntled patron? Skwor, Jeanette 28 Aug 2006 13:26 UTC
Hmm. I was going to say I'd suggest a subject search, explaining then that all the titles on that subject will be shelved in the same area. But then I went to your website, plugged in physiology, and came up, first, with Acta Physiologica, "Shelved by Title". ??? Another thought is that it may be more efficient for the patron to search (browse) databases for useful articles before he/she goes hunting for the actual periodical. Obviously, the patron is frustrated, and in a totally different place than those of you who work with the collection day in and day out. You might want to consider how many people actually take the time to express that frustration and how many just leave the library in disgust. And - you may want to consider providing the requested list. Maybe it's time for a survey of library patrons? Good luck! Jeanette L. Skwor Serials Dept., Cofrin Library University of WI-Green Bay Green Bay, WI 54311-7003 "Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries." Anne Herbert, The Whole Earth Catalog -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Naomi Young Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 2:58 PM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: [SERIALST] What would YOU say to this disgruntled patron? What would you say if you had been asked to answer this electronic reference query? --- Reference Question = I would like to peruse various periodicals related to Africa, political science, economics, sociology, history, religion, etc. It would certainly have been nice if UF would have arranged the periodicals alphabetically (like most major universities, including the Ivy league). Instead I have to find the call number for each periodical! This is crazy! Is an alphabetical list available? If not, can one be posted electronically and also a hard copy posted in the periodical room? I'm sure other students are going to be driven mad when they cannot simply walk into the library and read Time, Newsweek or Sports Illustrated, but instead have to find a computer and figure out where the magazine is located. ------ The snide answers that are leaping to my fingers are neither kind nor user-centered... I'm curious ... what would YOU say? (Bonus points for Ivy League respondents who class their unbound issues)! Friday regards, Naomi Young Naomi K. Young Principal Serials Cataloger Cataloging & Metadata Dept. University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611-7007 (352) 392-0355 ext 234 naomi@uflib.ufl.edu