Re: changing job descriptions - new responsibilities in the absence of check-in/claiming Carter, Kathy 21 Jan 2010 23:15 UTC
I agree with Rick's points. We stopped claiming about 5 years ago and have no regrets. We make exceptions for missed loose-leaf updates (since the publication is useless unless complete), reference items (if requested), and lapsed orders (if noticed). We cancel print as soon as reliable online access becomes available, with very few exceptions, but we still have over 5000 print titles. Users are offered ILL for missing issues. They don't care why the issue is unavailable (issue never received, lost, stolen, mis-shelved, at the bindery, etc.). Although it's true that each library must make its own decisions based on its own situation, certain data if collected by one library would likely be applicable to all of us, such as what percentage of issues never arrive with claiming vs without claiming. With the staff time we saved we've been able to (among other things) organize systematic reviews of our orders to identify print titles we can cancel in favour of reliable online access, and to provide prompt troubleshooting for online access problems. Kathy Carter Bibliographic Services University of Alberta Libraries Edmonton AB T6G 2J8 780 492 5753 kathy.carter@ualberta.ca www.library.ualberta.ca -----Original Message----- From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Rick Anderson Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 2:12 PM To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [SERIALST] changing job descriptions - new responsibilities in the absence of check-in/claiming > For those who have ceased check-in and/or claiming, what types of proactive > processes are staff now doing to manage the electronic resources? It's not really as simple as a straight transfer of employee time from print management to e-management -- partly because activities that make no sense in the print realm don't necessarily make more sense online. But by eliminating (or significantly reducing) check-in and claiming activities for print, various departments I've worked with have been able to increase the amount of time staff have spent registering for free-with-print access (which in the past they had been "too busy" to keep up with), spot-checking online products to make sure access hadn't been interrupted, and following up more quickly on patron-discovered problems. It's also worth bearing in mind that staff time freed up by the abandonment of check-in doesn't have to stay in the Serials department. It should go wherever it will provide the most benefit to patrons, and that could theoretically be just about anywhere. -- Rick Anderson Assoc. Dir. for Scholarly Resources & Collections Marriott Library Univ. of Utah rick.anderson@utah.edu (801) 721-1687