2 messages, 53 lines:

(1)-------------------------
Date:         Thu, 1 Feb 1996 09:09:00 -0800
From:         Freya N Anderson <ANFNA@ACAD2.ALASKA.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Barcoding/creating item records (Kamala Narayanan)

I don't know about problems changing from one system to another, but we
don't (and never have) barcode our journals.  We shelve alphabetically and
they don't circulate (except to faculty with permission from our reference
staff).  We haven't had any problems with our system yet.  For faculty to
check out periodicals, they fill out a form for each one.  It is cumbersome
but I think we prefer it that way.  We don't really want them out so we don't
want to make it easy.  I'm sorry this note is so convoluted.  I haven't had
my coffee yet! :)  I hope it helps though.

Freya Anderson
University of Alaska Anchorage

(2)-----------------------
Date:         Thu, 1 Feb 1996 08:57:32 PST
From:         Kathleen Thorne <KATHLEEN@SJSUVM1.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Barcoding/creating item records (Kamala Narayanan)

At present, the only journal volumes at our library that get bar codes are
the few that are checked out overnight/short loan to faculty members (and
even then it's only done with older volumes).  The volumes don't normally
even have separate item records on our PAC, only a single all-encompassing
item record for each format (ie, one for paper, one for microfilm, etc.).

Part of the reason for that is, of course, that the journal volumes DON'T
circulate; part was the sheer volume of work (we're the second-largest of
the Calif. state universities and have been around for well over 100 years),
part was the reluctance to use up that much storage space in the PAC, part
was the distaste many of us had for the business of scrolling up and down
to see if we had a particular volume, when our holdings statement already
gives that information (and 90% of the time it's "in" since materials don't
circulate!)  Of course, that may change, and if so I'll probably be among
the last to know.

We did bar-code bound volumes that went off to a satellite campus, sort of
as a test to see whether we liked it or not -- no one seemed overly fond of
the project, but no one objected, either.

Obviously, in order to keep track of our bound volumes, we still have a
holdings file (it's in alpha order by main entry, so not a shelflist -
the shelflist was summarily discarded when the cataloging of periodicals
was turned over to clerical staff with no serials training last summer).
After all, after an earthquake it's easier to pick up cards from the floor
than it is to cope with no electricity/no PAC/no access!

--Kathleen Thorne, Serials Cataloger in Exile
San Jose State University
kathleen@sjsuvm1.sjsu.edu