The United States Book Exchange

Abstract

Serials Review visits the United States Book Exchange in Cleveland, Ohio. The staff of this nonprofit organization supplies back issues to over 2,000 member libraries in addition to nonmember libraries in the United States and the world. The tour will examine how this exchange is organized and how electronic access to journal literature has changed its emphasis. Serials Review 29:318–320.     

Developing a Crystal Clear Future for the Serials Unit in an Electronic Environment: Results of a Workflow Analysis

Institutional growth at Old Dominion University and changes within its libraries over the past several years have left the Serials Unit feeling anything but crystal clear. In moving from a print to an electronic focus, the Serials Unit conducted a workflow analysis project. The analysis resulted in a report containing recommendations for reallocating responsibilities and documenting changes in staff skills and positions. This article, which grew out of a presentation at the 15th North Carolina Serials Conference “Crystal Clear? Today's Libraries, Tomorrow's Library Users,” describes the workflow analysis process and expands on how its recommendations have benefited the Serials Unit.     

Chinese American Newspapers and Periodicals in the United States and Their Web Presence

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of the Web presence of Chinese American newspapers and periodicals in the United States based on the author's last ten-year national survey of Chinese American newspapers and periodicals in the United States in 1997. The author reports on and updates the changes, development, variety, and status of Chinese American newspapers and periodicals and their Web editions. These publications and their Web presence have played a major role in maintaining the identity, cohesiveness, and structure of Chinese communities. They are the major sources for covering significant aspects of Chinese culture, including the historical, social, economic, and political development of Chinese Americans in the United States. Serials Review 2003; 29:179–198.     

Microfilm Serial Backfiles: Are They Still Cost Effective?

For the past thirty years libraries have made serials backfile decisions based on an understanding that microfilm is a more cost effective format than bound print journals. Yet with the rising cost of microfilm, is this still the case? In spring 2002, the collection development team leader at the Florida Gulf Coast University Library compared the costs of microfilm and bound print serial backfiles, and also how those two mediums compared with costs of a stable electronic backfile collection. The author presented the results in a poster session at the 17th annual conference of the North American Serials Interest Group in Williamsburg, Virginia, June 20–23, 2002, and then recalculated all statistics prior to publication in this article. Serials Review 2003; 29:282–286.     

“Living with electronic data interchange: Implementation and practical applications for EDI from the perspective of the ILS vendor,the librarian,and the book vendor,” a report from the ALCTS,automated acquisitions/in-process control systems discussion group session at the ALA midwinter conference,January 1996

Abstract

The libraries in the Western North Carolina Library Network (WNCLN) seek effective ways to provide patrons with a complete list of electronic journals provided through their various aggregator services, so patrons can determine e-journal access to article citations. The WNCLN libraries (Appalachian State University, the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and Western Carolina University) accomplished this through their shared catalog (Innovative Interfaces, Inc. [INNOPAC]), data provided by Serials Solutions, and local computer programming. Brief MARC records, with locally created key titles, provide an interim solution to the complexities of aggregator services. Serials Review 2002; 28:108–112.     

Directory of Literary Magazines

Abstract

Libraries face a crossroads when contemplating serials preservation issues. This paper will discuss the ideas presented during “Serials Preservation: at a Crossroads,” a one-day meeting held in March 2005, and sponsored by the North American Serials Interest Group. Binding, off-site storage, preserving e-journals, and vendor efforts, as well as looking at new developments, such as Google Book Search, offer strategies and challenges for preserving serials and expanding avenues of access for users. Many options exist for serials preservation, but libraries must ultimately consider their individual needs and environment to determine the best serials preservation strategy.     

Confession Magazines

Abstract

The results of this survey underscore the controversy surrounding the elimination of OCLC's Serials Control Subsystem. The survey evoked responses more numerous and fervent than I anticipated when the project began. As might be expected, those libraries that used the system more extensively and checked in the higher number of formats on SCS were most likely to describe the impact of SCS's elimination as serious. Most of the respondents expected that their immediate choice for a new serials control system would be permanent. As one respondent commented, “…librarians cannot afford to be switching serials control systems every few years.” Among libraries using the Serials Control Subsystem, approximately one-third chose to switch to OCLC's SC350, but no alternative serials system emerged as the second choice.     

Serials spoken here: reports of conferences,institutes, and seminars

Abstract

Reports on the Ohio Valley Group of Technical Services Librarians (OVGTSL) Annual Conference, the April 2004 New England Technical Services Librarians (NETSL) Conference, the 2004 Acquisitions Institute at Timberline Lodge, and the 2004 Conference of the North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG).

Reports are from four conferences held in various parts of the United States and cover a wide range of topics. The Ohio Valley Group of Technical Services Librarians program emphasized the relationship between technical and public services. Education, both formal and continuing, was the theme for the New England Technical Services Librarians. Timberline Lodge hosted another Acquisitions Institute featuring sessions on new discoveries. The report on the 2004 North American Serials Group Annual Conference allows Conference Student Grant Award winner Chris Brady to include some personal reflections along with summaries of the sessions he attended.     

Getting to Where You Want to Go: Designing Information Systems and Using Your Data Through the Application of Analytics and Informatics

ABSTRACT

This article, based on the closing session from the 2017 NC Serials Conference, describes a systems perspective where data serve as both real-time and summative information and knowledge about how an organization is performing, what services and resources its users are using and interacting with, and areas for which the organization is doing well or needs improvement. The author posits that data are most useful when the context is informed by clear goals that provide a direction to where the organization is and wants to be. Applied examples are discussed for several environments, including an academic department, school of education, regional libraries, and public libraries.     

An Interview with Jean Hirons,CONSER Coordinator

Abstract

Jean Hirons, Cooperative Online Serials (CONSER) Coordinator, retired June 30 from the Library of Congress after a career of over thirty years in libraries. Jean plans to begin a new career as a pastel painter. I spoke to Jean in May 2003 to get her views on CONSER's role in developing standards for cataloging electronic resources. Serials Review 2003; 29:233–236.     

E-journal Management Systems

Abstract

Electronic journals are being added to library collections at exponential rates. Recent developments in e-journal management systems offer libraries a variety of solutions for enhancing the visibility and flexibility of their electronic journals. This article examines and compares Serials Solutions, JournalWebCite, TDNet, and Serials Cybrarian, four current e-journal management programs that create and integrate multiple lists of journal titles, regardless of format, into a single list. These systems can reduce or even eliminate common serials control problems for librarians. Readers will gain insights that will enable them to better understand and consider the value of an e-journal management system. Serials Review 2002; 28:176–194.     

Serials spoken here: reports of conferences, institutes, and seminars

Reports on the Ohio Valley Group of Technical Services Librarians (OVGTSL) Annual Conference, the April 2004 New England Technical Services Librarians (NETSL) Conference, the 2004 Acquisitions Institute at Timberline Lodge, and the 2004 Conference of the North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG).Reports are from four conferences held in various parts of the United States and cover a wide range of topics. The Ohio Valley Group of Technical Services Librarians program emphasized the relationship between technical and public services. Education, both formal and continuing, was the theme for the New England Technical Services Librarians. Timberline Lodge hosted another Acquisitions Institute featuring sessions on new discoveries. The report on the 2004 North American Serials Group Annual Conference allows Conference Student Grant Award winner Chris Brady to include some personal reflections along with summaries of the sessions he attended.     

The Little Magazine Collection at the University of Wisconsin–Madison

Abstract

Serials Review visits the University of Wisconsin–Madison Memorial Library to hear about the Little Magazine Collection. This collection consists primarily of literary journals, but it also contains magazines, which reflect trends in art, society, and politics. Readers of Serials Review will recognize this collection as the source of a regular column, “Little Magazine Interview Index,” compiled by Yvonne Schofer and Barbara Richards. The author discusses the history of the collection and its current development. Serials Review 2002; 28:153–155.     

Serials Control for the Italian Union Catalog of Serials

Abstract

European and Italian libraries are strongly involved in efforts to facilitate access to European information resources. The Italian union catalogue of serials has evolved from a traditional catalog to a sophisticated resource that provides access to serials services. Serials control is the most recent service of the union catalog with features for end users and professional staff. The software is BASIS Techlib by ID Technology (Italy), affinity partner of Open Text (USA). The ability to customize features presents a very satisfactory, easy-to-use product that might be considered interesting for union catalogs in other countries. Serials Review 2003; 29:169–178.     

Open Source Software

Abstract

This article provides a brief introduction to the open source software (OSS) movement in libraries from a serialist's perspective. After defining what the open source software movement is about, the article highlights three examples of OSS applications in libraries: jake (Jointly Administered Knowledge Environment); Koha and OpenBiblio, two open source library systems; and MyLibrary@NCState.It concludes by suggesting some sources for further research and study and encourages serialists to get involved in this worthwhile movement. Serials Review 2003; 29:36–39.     

Millennium Serials Module of Innovative Interfaces,Inc

Abstract

This article addresses the Millennium Serials module of Innovative Interfaces, Inc. The author traces serial titles through the total library process and examines how Millennium Serials (Innovative Interfaces, Inc.) facilitates each task, from ordering to receiving to check-in (including claiming and binding). Serials Review 2002; 28: 213–221.     

Pricing of Digital Resources

Abstract

In this interview, Simon Tanner, senior consultant with Higher Education Digitization Services at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom, discusses the economics and market issues related to pricing of digital resources. Serials Review 2003; 29:121–126.