The Serials Librarian and the Reference Department:

Reference librarians are persons who deal with users directly, providing services which cover a wide range of subjects and formals. Sometimes these librarians have subject expertise or are strong in certain areas. Serials librarians are also providing services to users but the nature of their contribution is sometimes overlooked, often misunderstood. The serials librarian can provide a useful link to the world of periodicals, journals, directories and other reference sources because he or she is familiar with the types of materials available, the treatment of serials, and the problems which are posed by this format's complexity. This paper presents the role of the serials librarian not only as a technical services professional, but also as a valuable associate to reference and public services. The main purpose of this discussion is to describe ways in which both reference and serials librarians can work together toward the ultimate goal of providing quality patron service.     

Evolution of a processing system in a large biomedical library.

The processing system used in the UCLA Biomedical Library is modest in size and still under development. Its origins date back to a batch mode serials control system begun in the mid-1960s. This was converted to an on-line system which currently has modules for check-in, updating and retrieval, claims, bindery preparation, and invoice information. Titles can be retrieved at the terminal by search of any word in the title, by subject heading, language, country of publication, and type of publication. The system is adaptable to network use and at present is shared with one other library. To the serials system has been added a computer-assisted cataloging and card production system. The latter utilizes serials nucleus software as well as design for data input and data storage. In-house listings and coding procedures overlap in a general way. Work is under way on further integration of the two processing subsystems and a feasibility study has been completed for addition of a subsystem for acquisitions which will combine and adapt features of the other two; for example, information retrieval characteristics from both, catalog coding and programs for acceptance of data, serials programs for claims, and other output programs. Cost benefits of the subsystems are described and discussed.     

Risky Business: Outsourcing Serials Cataloging

In 1999, the University Library System at the University of Pittsburgh began a project to outsource cataloging for both the monographs and serials that were included in a special collection known at the university as the Glidden Collection. The collection had previously been accessible only through the existence of a card catalog. The materials had originally been cataloged using a local hybrid classification system based on the Glidden classification system. In her presentation, Faye Leibowitz provides detailed information about the history of the collection and why certain factors associated with the collection made it a difficult candidate for outsourcing. Libraries should seriously consider the hidden costs of outsourcing serials cataloging. The decision to outsource serials cataloging should take into account staffing problems and training. The way in which catalogers at the selected vendor use “cataloger's judgment” can also impact consistency between existing library policy and the outsourced records.     

Robotics: Scientific Information Sources in Russia and Abroad

Currently important Russian and foreign sources of scientific and technical information related to robotics are discussed. An attempt is made to analyze scientific and technical periodicals of the relevant subject matter, selected from the global knowledgebase of periodicals, that is, Ulrich’s Directory of Periodicals. Leading scientific serials attributed to robotics that have the best bibliometric indicators according to the global information and analytical systems Scopus and Web of Science are identified. The specific features of the classification of the subject matter in various classification systems and rubricators for scientific and technical information are considered. Special attention is given to Russian scientific periodicals on robotics included in Russian scientific electronic library (eLibrary.ru) and information resources of All-Russian Institute for Scientific and Technical Information of Russian Academy of Sciences (VINITI RAS). Particular focus is placed on the problem of access to these and other kinds of information sources on robotics, which is of great importance for researchers and specialists working in this field.     

Philosophy Dissertation Bibliographies and Citations in Serials Evaluation

Serial and journal collections can be effectively evaluated through citation studies of dissertation bibliographies. The entire run of philosophy dissertations accepted at Purdue University from 1970-1988 was examined for serials and journals listed in their bibliographies. A composite profile of bibliographic support for serials and journals in dissertation research in philosophy at Purdue University was checked against the serial and journal Holdings. This simple procedure is both effective and easily performed for any research collection in the humanities. Both librarian and subject scholar can benefit in implementing this procedure in collection evaluation.     

Price indexes for the new media: a cd-rom case history

This article is based on a presentation given July 1, 1991, at the American Library Association's annual conference. It reports on an attempt to develop a CD-ROM price index modelled on the price indexes for serials and other materials produced under the aegis of ALA's Library Materials Price Index Committee and conforming to ANSI Standard Z39.20-1983. This proved to be an impossible task, primarily because of the inability to define a reliable unit of measurement for CD-ROM prices and the difficulty of tracking a sufficiently representative sample of the universe of CD-ROM titles purchased by libraries over the period from 1988–1991. However, the value of simply tracking the prices of a data sample without a base index year—a price inventory—was recognized by the Committee. The data gathered thus far were analyzed to show price trends by LC subject classification and publication types (monographs and serials). The 4.3% increase from 1989 to 1990 reflects the change from $1,783 to $1,860 in publication price for the average CD-ROM title. The evolution and stabilization of the CD-ROM publishing industry in the 1990s should support the eventual establishment of a CD-ROM price index, on which work continues.     

Automated Serials Control Systems A Selected Bibliography (1977 to 1984)

The following is a selected bibliography of recent literature dealing with automated serials control systems. The aim in compiling this bibliography was to (1) complement the papers presented at the 1984 Serials Roundtable. and (2) provide a broad overview of the subject, which in turn might serve as the foundation for an individual's own investigations.     

Boundary Spanners and Serials Deselection

Periodic serials deselection projects are an economic necessity, especially for academic libraries that serve predominantly undergraduate institutions. The dialogue between teaching faculty and librarians accompanying the serials deselection process may be an important learning experience for both, especially if thc library uses subject specialist librarians as "boundary-spanners," a concept explored in the essay. Nonetheless, even the most skillfully conducted cancellation program will reduce a library's ability to support scholarship and impair the working relationship bctween the library and its teaching faculty.     

Approaches,Techniques, and Criteria for Serials Evaluation in the Electronic Environment

Abstract

An overview of traditional methods of evaluating serials collections and serial titles is presented and applied to electronic resources. Traditional methods such as holdings, checklist, conspectus, availability studies, document delivery studies, citation studies and use studies used for the evaluation of serials collections in print can be modified for the evaluation of electronic serials collections. Issues, problems and challenges associated with electronic serials evaluation are then outlined, and conclusions that emphasize the continuing importance of serials evaluation in the electronic environment are drawn.     

Chipping Away at Serials Processing Backlogs in Technical Services

The author reports on the results of a survey on serials processing backlogs in technical services. Approximately 40% of responding libraries had some type of backlog of serials, both print and electronic. The types of materials in the backlogs and the factors that contributed to them are discussed, together with the storage of backlogged materials and the public's access to them. The study examines possible methods to reduce the backlog and perhaps prevent future backlogs in serials processing.     

AN AUTOMATED BOOK CATALOG FOR A LEARNING RESOURCES CENTER PERIODICALS COLLECTION

To permit easy user access to an uncataloged serials collection, a method was devised to produce (via computer facilities) a book catalog. This book catalog includes both an alphabetical listing by serial title and a subject section that lists titles by appropriate category. The programs necessary for this system were designed in the computer center according to specifications outlined by library personnel. The catalog can be easily reproduced from the computer printout and distributed campus-wide as well as used within the Learning Resources Center.     

Serials Management in Special Libraries: Present and Future Relationships Between Libraries and Vendors

Summary

The management issues facing those who deal with serials in special libraries may be common to all special libraries, unique to the particular discipline, or shared by all libraries struggling to deal with serials in the 1990s. A law librarian and a medical librarian described the history, nature, and use of serial literature in their respective subject areas, and discussed important customer issues facing their libraries, including the financial aspects. They were joined by a vendor's representative who summarized the similarities and differences in these library situations from a vendor's perspective, including the opportunities and limitations of the vendor/special library relationship.     

The Serials Catalog:

The serials catalog is a key link in the search process for current information in a library. Decades of evolution in the ways of entering serials in the catalog have compromised the usability of this important research tool. This article examines (1) the results of studies on serials catalog use; (2) the reasons for serial search failures; (3 the cataloging rules and practices researchers need to understand in order to effectively use a serials catalog; and (4) the local in-house modifications which often complicate the search process. It also offers searching hints which will help reference personnel improve their ability to successfully locate serial entries for library patrons.     

On Your Mark,Get Set … Talk! The First-Ever NASIG Speed Rounds

This article examines the purpose, structure, and short-term outcomes of a new Strategy Session format introduced at the NASIG Twenty-Second Annual Conference. Borrowing from the trend in modern matchmaking known as speed dates, this interactive Strategy Session employed a moderated round robin format that brought publishers and librarians together to discuss serials topics of common interest. Limited by the clock, participants had the opportunity to ask questions and share thoughts from their perspectives as serials producers and serials consumers. Though of limited duration, discussions could touch on any topic related to the creation, use, and impact of serials in the participants' respective areas of work and interest. The Strategy Session was offered in two time slots on the first day of the conference.