We have a similar ongoing regular process in place, usually using multiple students whose regular library jobs necessitate "being there" but not always busy. I pull e-journal title lists from Millennium which are then checked in the public opac, clicking through the links to check holdings, access, etc. If problem/discrepancy is discovered, a note is made; completed pages are returned to me to verify what the student found and to deal with problems. It's a very valuable process for us. And a worthwhile use of student time. Often an access problem for a title is just the tip of the iceberg for a publisher or database and I can resolve this before it's a problem for our patrons. I get regular clean-up lists from database maintenance of links that don't go anywhere (from our automated link checker) but this titles level checking assures us that the active link is both accurate and that the resource offers us actual access. Alice Gormley Serials Librarian Marquette University Raynor Memorial Libraries ________________________________________ From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of T Thompson [thomtd@NMSU.EDU] Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 1:32 PM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Checking e access was futile claiming Jeanette, May I ask how large your collection is? This is appealing, but I am wondering how doable for us. Thanks. Tracey Thompson Acquisitions Librarian New Mexico State University Library MSC 3475 P.O. Box 30006 Las Cruces, NM 88003-8006 (p) 575-646-8093 (f) 575-646-7477 -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Skwor, Jeanette Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 10:43 AM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Checking e access was futile claiming Sure. We keep a spreadsheet of our titles; I sort it to show the online and/or the print & online subs. The spreadsheet shows through whom we have access, the current subs dates, online coverage, passwords if needed and a notes field. I print that off and a student takes them in alphabetical order, from our catalog link, accesses the newest issue, the oldest we should have and one or so in between. Brings up the citation and the full text and makes sure we have it. If coverage is different in any way than indicated on the sheet, he/she notes that. If the current issue doesn't seem to be current, or if there is a newer one on the site that we cannot access, that is noted also, as is any difficulty getting into the site, etc. Anything that works as expected is just marked "ok". The student dates & initials their work; I go through the list & check the problematic ones myself & notify our ERM librarian as needed. I enter the Access checked date on the spreadsheet, whether OK or problematic and we recheck the problematic as needed to make sure it turns into an OK. I would say each title gets checked 3-4 times a year - more so if it had been problematic. By the time we get to the Zs we're ready to start over again with the As :-) Basically, as far as the student goes, it is just like doing research - in fact I've had unknowing staff tell me my student was doing homework at the computer when they were doing this. It really does catch a lot of things we'd miss otherwise, not a "missing issue" like in paper, but a whole subs that the pub thinks they've not been paid for, a non-working link, etc. Hope that helps. If you like, I do have a procedures sheet on this I'd be glad to send, but it is of course specific to our system. Jeanette Skwor -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Sally Smith Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 10:48 AM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] Checking e access was futile claiming Hello Jeanette, Could you describe the process that your students use to check e content on a rotating basis? Thanks, Sally Sally Smith Bethel University Library/Serials Dept. 3900 Bethel Drive St. Paul, MN 55112 Phone: 651-635-8544 Fax: 651-635-2393 http://www.library.bethel.edu/ -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Skwor, Jeanette Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 8:44 AM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] futile claiming I have my students check access on a rotating basis. Jeanette L. Skwor Serials Dept., Cofrin Library University of Wisconsin - Green Bay 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Linda Wobbe Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 1:46 PM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] futile claiming Hi Michael, I'm worried that we don't always receive the electronic content, either. What are the options for checking receipt of electronic issues? Thanks! Linda Michael A. Edwards wrote: > All-electronic is looking better and better. But affording it is > another issue entirely (usual pun intended). > > Michael A. Edwards > Serials & Electronic Resources Librarian > Harold F. Johnson Library Center > Hampshire College > Amherst, MA 01002-3372 > 413.559.5766 voice > 413.559.5419 fax > maedwards@hampshire.edu > http://library.hampshire.edu/ > > One man's theology is another man's belly laugh. > -- Robert A. Heinlein >