Re: displaying current issues Stacey Krim 03 Sep 2008 12:10 UTC
Good morning, We are a medium sized academic library, as well. We have a current periodicals section where all our print journals are lying flat, plus a separate serials browsing section in which about 40 of the most recent issues of popular magazines are displayed. Print journals remain in current periodicals until we can guarantee online coverage or microfilm those issues or until we have enough to bind (we give our serials LC numbers to be shelved in the stacks). Journal titles in our browsing section were determined by our Collection Development Committee. Although the section is new, I've noticed heavy use of the section, as the shelving makes the magazine covers and titles more apparent to patrons. We have comfortable seating around the area, so our patrons will use it to relax during breaks or between classes. Additionally, the browsing shelves make it much easier for the disabled to access those titles, as the browsing shelving is considerably lower than the flat shelving we use in current periodicals. In the instances of journals being online only, all serials titles can be found in our online catalog through Journal Finder, so we do not have many problems with patrons finding and accessing the material. Overall, I think having a current periodicals section makes the library a more user-friendly environment. Although we have significantly reduced our serials print collection, I think it is in the library's best interest to retain at least a browsing collection of popular titles to cultivate an image of the library as a pleasant place to meet and relax. Stacey Krim Serials Department Walter Clinton Jackson Library University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro NC 27402-6170 (336) 334-5498 srkrim@uncg.edu Mary Logue wrote: > I have searched the archives and did not see any recent discussion on this > topic (maybe I didn't search well enough), but I'm wondering what other > libraries are doing about displaying current issues of their print > periodicals. We are going to have a discussion about whether this is > something should continue or not and I was hoping to have insights from > others before we discussed it as a library here. I have listed some of the > questions/concerns I have about displaying current issues of periodicals. We > are an academic library, but I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who > would like to respond. > > 1. Do you still display current issues of your periodicals? Why? If you > don't display current issues, why not? > 2. If you display, what do you do about titles you purchase online only? > Have patrons been confused because a title they were looking for is not on > the current issue display because it is only available online? > 3. If you display, do you display all your print titles, or how do you > determine what to display? > 4. If you display, how do you display them? > 5. If you do not display your current issues, how have the > faculty/staff/students reacted to not having them displayed? > 6. Any other insights/comments you may have if you've already had this > conversation on your campus. > > I appreciate any and all comments. > > Thanks, > > Mary > > Mary Logue > Assistant Librarian > Westmont College, Voskuyl Library > 955 La Paz Road Santa Barbara, CA 93108 > 805-565-6144