Re: [SERIALIST]: Students and Checkin Lynn Cote 18 Jan 2007 12:24 UTC
Allison wrote: The issue isn't just "will you use students to checkin serials" - the issue is "WHICH students will you let checkin serials?" If you get the right one, it can be a fabulous help. Get the wrong one and you'll spend a lot of time going in behind them making corrections. You have to decide if it's worth the time in training and supervision. I agree 100% with Allison's statement. We also have fewer students since we receive fewer print subscriptions but students still do the bulk of our check-in (as well as mail opening and shelving). Some students can only handle the 'basic' check-in (matching the exact issue to the 'expected issue') while others (particularly those who have been with us for a few years) are really good at handling the more difficult check-in (those issues requiring enumeration or chronology editing, or overall pattern assessment). After training a student it's pretty clear what his/her capabilities are and what his/her capacity is. I had a student for 5 years who oversaw check-in, did our union listing (for us as well as 5 regional campuses) and also verified electronic access for titles converted to 'online' and then added 856s into our bib. records (pre-SerialsSolutions MARC records). She was terrific! And then we've had others .... but we were able to use them for mail opening, shelving, etc. Lynn K. Cote Serials Cataloger Collections Services, U-2005 University of Connecticut Homer Babbidge Library 369 Fairfield Rd. Storrs, CT 06269-2005 ph. (860)486-6495 fax (860)486-6493 ************************************ Please report problems with access to electronic resources to elibrary@uconn.edu -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Mays, Allison Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 2:09 PM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] [SERIALIST]: Students and Checkin We used to have students check in serials, but this was because we had a long-time staffer in serials who basically could not see and had other health problems. The students had to do the checkin. And we had one student who was particularly good at it - and has since become a librarian. Now I have a serials assistant who is very particular and would just rather do it himself. I agree, because he does a fabulous job. But it's also due to workflow: we need labels because we shelve in call number order, and it's a little complicated in Sirsi. We just don't want students doing it. Also, it's less of an issue because we have cancelled a lot of print titles and it just doesn't take as long. If my serials assistant needs help, we take other duties off of him, like shelving. The issue isn't just "will you use students to checkin serials" - the issue is "WHICH students will you let checkin serials?" If you get the right one, it can be a fabulous help. Get the wrong one and you'll spend a lot of time going in behind them making corrections. You have to decide if it's worth the time in training and supervision. Allison P. Mays Coordinator of Acquisitions & Cataloging Millsaps College 1701 N. State Street Jackson, MS 39210 601-974-1083 maysap@millsaps.edu -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Laurel Cochrane Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 6:52 PM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: [SERIALST] [SERIALIST]: Students and Checkin Dear Serialist: If you have a minute to reply to me off-list, I'd appreciate learning how many folks (if any...) utilize students to perform basic checkin functions within their library's online system? If yes--do students only checkin certain categories? Or everything? Thanks in advance for your time. Sincerely, Laurel Laurel P. Cochrane Associate Librarian Notre Dame Law School Kresge Library Room 230 Notre Dame, IN 46556-0535 574-631-0983 (voice) 574-631-6371 (fax)