Public Library Periodical Questions (Anne Ross) ERCELAA@ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu 18 Mar 1998 16:55 UTC
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 09:27:52 -0500 From: "Anne Ross (SCFN)" <ross@SCFN.THPL.LIB.FL.US> Subject: Public Library Periodical Question(s) The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System is examining ways to move the periodicals collection at our main library from a closed stack area on a non-public floor to a public floor with open access. It's a big change for us and we're taking our time to try and do this right (and only do it once!). One of our steps, of course, is to talk to people at other libraries who have gone through this change and/or have always had a major collection of periodicals in a public, open access area. We have a number of questions about shelving, access, space, and general policy. If you're with a public library (and, even better, a large urban library system) where the main library's periodical collection is in a public area please reply to me (ross@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us) so I can call or email you with some questions. If there is enough interest, I'll be glad to summarize the responses for the list. We are particularly interested in knowing how you shelve your materials: Are the current and back issues together, are they interfiled with books in dewey order or in a separate area. If they are in a separate area - do you have a separate security system, a separate reference desk, etc. etc. We'd also like to know what constitutes your periodicals area: Are materials checked in right there or someplace else? Does your periodicals area have a separate staff? Does it include microfilm/microfiche products as well as the cd-rom indexes? Are there Photocopiers and reader/printers and computers in that same area? And, of course, we're looking for any general advice you might have based on your experience with such a process such as do you still keep certain high-demand titles at a reference desk, do you position the equipment in specific ways to give you certain sightlines,etc. etc. My advance thanks for your help. ___________________________________________________________________ Anne Ross, Head Fine Arts/Av/Youth Services Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System ross@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us (813)273-3624 (813)273-3655 (fax) ___________________________________________________________________