Creating Core Serials Lists in a Public Library

The creation of two core serials lists, a general reference serials list and a general periodicals list, is examined in a case study of a medium-sized, multi-branch public library. Definition, purpose and background of core serials lists are given, and the methodologies for creating core lists of serials for various purposes are reviewed. The process of core serials list creation at the Tucson Public Library is described and recommendations for other small and medium public libraries wishing to develop and maintain their own core lists are made.     

ANDREW OSBORN

An examination is made of the components of the serials librarian's job, and an attempt is made to show how serials librarianship has developed over the past decade according to precepts laid down by Osborn in his famous book on serials. Warning is given against the tendency to relegate serials responsibility to the larger umbrella technical services unit that has gained recent favor.     

Library Reorganization,Chaos, and Using the Core Competencies as a Guide

Starting in the fall of 2012, the staff at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) Library began to plan for a library-wide reorganization of staff and services. Every staff member would be affected by the reorganization process, including the library’s serials and e-resources team. In what could be a most chaotic time, the serials and e-resources team chose to use the North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG) draft version of core competencies for electronic resource librarians as a guide to help in selecting members for the e-resources team that would emerge following the reorganization. The presentation on which this article is based reviews the situation at UTA, the core competencies, and how the serials/e-resources team used the core competencies along with a self-assessment tool to help select the most qualified staff for the team.     

From the Majors to the Minors: Playing the Game as the Rules Are Changed

In Australia no library school at either professional or paraprofessional level offers a course to meet the needs of serials librarians. In the absence of such provision, this paper summarizes the findings of research on serials courses in the U.S.A. and Britain. It highlights the dissatisfaction of practitioners with training in this area and the failure of serials training to meet the needs of the profession; it indicates that a survey in Australia would probably produce similar findings. It discusses the content of librarianship courses-both the core curriculum and a specialized serials librarlanship curriculum-with the objective of outlining a professionally relevant serials librarianship course for Australia, drawing on experiences such as those at Loughborough and Columbia Universities. Finally, the paper specifies the aims and objectives of the proposed Australian course in serials librarianship, and outlines the content of thirteen suggested components.     

探究市场变化中大型图书馆期刊采访对策的优化

期刊出版发行市场的变化给期刊采访工作带来困难,通过对期刊发行机构的特点分析和大型图书馆采访过程中各种难点的归纳,提出针对性的措施,以优化期刊采访对策。     

Citations and Citation Metrics in a Serial Assessment Using Master's Theses

We analyzed serial citations in 72 marine biology master's theses as well as the ranking data of aquatic science serials from six global serial citation metrics, to assess serial use by marine biology graduate students from two perspectives. From 1,035 unique serials, a core of 123 titles was identified and evaluated for access. Citation ages averaged 13.5 years, with 27% of serial citations dated prior to 1996. Students cited serials from disciplines beyond marine biology, demonstrating broad title dispersion compared to several other studies. Recommendations are offered for future investigation to develop a stronger understanding of graduate students’ use of the library's serial collection.     

Basic List of Veterinary Medical Serials 2nd Edition, 1981, With Revisions to April 1, 1986

This article contains a list of core veterinary serials that the Veterinary Medical Libraries Section of the Medical Library Association feels should be in any veterinary medical library serving an institution accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association. It is a list that can serve as a nucleus from which the collection can be further developed as determined by the research thrust of the institution that the library is serving. An adjunct list of important human medical and general science serials is also included to help guide the librarian in developing the collection.     

The “80/20 Rule” and Core Journals

This column examines the 80/20 rule, also termed a Pareto distribution, and explains these terms' historical origins. The column focuses on this pattern in the use of print serials, downloads from electronic databases, and citations to journals. The rule's relationship to Bradford's Law is explored, and some of the research pertaining to the 80/20 rule is reviewed. The pattern's utility for defining the core collection and serials collection management is discussed, whereas a number of limitations are pointed out. Some questions for further research are suggested. It is concluded that the 80/20 ratio (80% of use is derived from 20% of the titles), when found as an approximate pattern, is a valid method for determining the core concept in journal collection management.     

AUTOMATION OF SERIALS CHECK-IN

This paper discusses what "automation of serials" should mean. It should include the all important check-in function, which is complicated for various reasons. Administrators don't usually know that a central serials file is dynamite. After watching computers we have come to realize how efficient a manual system can be and why. A truly automated system does not yet exist, but there are some semi-automated operations. Since computerization is here to stay, this paper sounds a number of warnings, among them the specter of information inflation and bibliographic overkill. Yet in the future automated serials systems will be effective if they are on-line and comprehensive, including full claiming and binding control, and ideally the ability to write checks. Reasons are given to explain why NOTIS-3 is probably the best system now in operation, although apparently not yet cost effective. This paper ends with a discussion of costs. Good cost studies do not appear to exist; yet a computerized serials system should not cost more than a manual one.     

网络电子连续出版物著录探讨

简述网络电子连续出版物的概念、类型和特征，提出其USMARC字段的具体著录方法。     

The Integrated Serials Department

Historically, serials departments have been organized in diverse ways. The integrated serials department arrangement, including all serials functions, facilitates bibliographic control, provides effective service to the library user and promotes better communication. This study maintains the need for the integrated central serials department, with the University of Oklahoma Libraries Serials Department used as an example. The conclusion is reached that the automation of serials reinforces the need for a separate serials department.     

Applying serials & acquisitions skills on the “other side”

In June 1995, several librarians at the Fletcher Library of Arizona State University West resigned. The Library viewed this as an opportunity to examine the structure of the library and decided that the current contingent of librarians would assume the program responsibilities of the departing librarians on an interim basis. In addition to the author's regular responsibilities for serials acquisitions and serials management, she was given interim responsibility for management of the Journals/Microforms service programs and document delivery, as well as the supervision of the classified staff in that unit. She expected to draw upon her familiarity with serials and acquisitions, as well as previous supervisory experience, to maintain what is an important service point for the Library at ASU West. This paper will document the impact that decisions in serials acquisitions and control have on public service points and describe what impact this interim assignment in the public service sector will have on both the front-line and back-room operations at ASU West Library.     

Serials and Automation

An attempt is made to demonstrate that the frustrations and difficulties created for serials departments by the introduction of automation are coming to an end that the principal benefit automation provides the making of serials information immediately available to users-is making itself felt. It is indicated also that irony resides in the fact that the computer, which in its early uses proved refractory, now makes the work of the serials person as simple and effective as in the days of the manual check in arrangement. Some predictions are made as to the look of serials and serials departments in coming years.     

SERIALS DEPARTMENTS

Because tasks and materials related to serials processing and use are often dispersed in a library, serials specialists must develop personal influence strategies and use informal communication systems that cross organizational lines and boundaries. In the absence of a serials department, therefore, serials specialists and informal serials communication systems will continue to exist. There is wide agreement that informal communication systems do emerge spontaneously in organizations and that individuals without formally conferred authority may use various types of personal influence strategies to accomplish organizational objectives. While serials processing and public service could be most efficiently handled through a serials department, informal communication systems, utilized by serials specialists, will develop if such a department does not exist. In determining if a serials department has a place in a particular library organization, library planners should be concerned about natural communication channels and should, in addition, try to identify individuals who can communicate effectively across organizational barriers.     

高校图书馆纸质报刊服务提升策略

当前,探讨纸质报刊服务仍有现实意义。本文分析了高校图书馆纸质期刊现状,指出读者利用呈递减现象,纸质期刊数量减少,专业杂志收藏较少。重点从给予读者订购纸质报刊权利,逐步增加纸质报刊种类,积极提供纸质报刊阅读推荐服务,提供短期外借服务等七个方面对普通高校图书馆纸质报刊服务提升给出了可行性建议。     

Serials Organization

A revolution in serials work has occurred during the last decade as libraries have moved from manual operations to the age of automation. For economic and technological reasons, a renewed interest in the organization of serials activities has developed, and there is debate between those who favor continuing the separate serials department (organization by form) and those who favor merging serials activities into other departments (organization by function). In this study, the views of each school of thought are considered. The conclusion is reached that serials specialists must organize, anticipate and plan for further organizational changes.