Our shelvers put a hash mark next to each _title_ shelved on days
chosen according to random sampling methods.  After 6 hash marks (the number
at which we would pay copyright fees if borrowed on ILL), the shelvers cross
out the title and no longer need to count usage for it.

        Starting in January, I start entering shelving statistics into our
very old Profile database.  I forgot to mention that the shelvers also note
the date the title was shelved 6 times.  Our low-use titles are those which
were shelved less than 6x for at least 3 years out of (now) 5.  Most of these
were cancelled.  Those titles which were shelved 6x by the first quarter are
considered our high-use, core titles (about 100-150).  Those titles which were
shelved 6 times by the second quarter add another 200-300 titles which we
would never consider canceling.  We classify the collection as follows:

        1. New (less than 5 years old)
        2. First quarter
        3. Second quarter
        4. Third quarter
        5. Fourth quarter
        6. Cancellations

        I also count the number of people who sign our survey cards for new
titles or titles being considered for transfer.  I add their last names to
my database.  If there's more than 2 names on these yellow cards, I'm fairly
sure that this title will be used in the future.  Since so few cards are
signed, I know when someone bothers to take the time to sign the "yellow
card," the journal is important to them and probably their department.

        We also keep circulation records because our bound journals, except
the current year, circulate for 4 days.  However, I find circulation figures
much less telling than shelving figures.

Hannah King
SUNY HSC Library at Syracuse
kingh@snysyrv1
kingh@vax.cs.hscsyr.edu

Oh -- to mention one real pain problem:  title changes!