Staffing the Modern Library: A How-To-Do-It Manual

Abstract

This column discusses the effects of real or perceived funding reductions on serials resources. The focus is on bibliographic instruction and cataloging aspects of “fee” versus “free” resources.     

Perspectives on Job Stress in the Serials Information World

Abstract

Adam Chesler describes his experiences and observations of job stress in the serials publishing industry. While stresses, such as the challenges of supervision have always existed, others are new, such as serial publishers scrambling to adapt service and pricing models for providing Internet content. Advice is offered on coping with these stresses.     

Me and My Shadow: Observation,Documentation, and Analysis of Serials and Electronic Resources Workflow

Abstract

Librarians in the Metadata & Cataloging Department at the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Libraries embarked on a comprehensive project to document and review the Libraries' serials and electronic resources workflow with the goals of introducing greater efficiency, clarity, and simplicity into processes across the serials unit and of increasing training opportunities for department-wide understanding of the serials lifecycle. This paper examines the method used to observe and collect information about serials and electronic resources work, the process of synthesizing that information into a graphical representation of the serials lifecycle, and the workflow analysis undertaken to introduce improved serials processes. The value of the project is demonstrated through a discussion of efforts for workflow education, analysis, and improvement at the NCSU Libraries directly instigated by review of the process documentation by technical services staff members.     

Reports of Conferences,Institutes, and Seminars

Abstract

This quarter’s column offers a report from the 2018 annual meeting of the Ex Libris Users of North America (ELUNA), as well as coverage of sessions from the annual meeting of the Northern Ohio Technical Services Librarians (NOTSL). A handful of reports were also collected from courses offered at the FORCE11 Scholarly Communications Institute. Topics covered include features within ExLibris’s Alma library that support print serials operations, current and future developments in serials librarianship, and critiques about open peer review.     

Serials Staffing for the Twenty-First Century and Beyond

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the technical services issues relating to the future of serials staffing, particularly for serials catalogers. Trends in cataloging procedures, technical services reorganizations, and the changing roles of professional and paraprofessional employees affect present and future responsibilities of serials work. The author also examines major technological innovations that have affected staffing needs, including journals in electronic format, vendor-supplied holdings data, automatic generation of bibliographic records, and the potential implications of proposed serials cataloging rule changes on the way in which serials will be managed in libraries. Serials Review 2002; 28:195–200.     

Serial Joy and Serial Sorrow: The Experience of the Paraprofessional Serials Manager

Abstract

Paraprofessionals play a major role in the management of serials operations in libraries. Nine paraprofessional serials managers responded to an inquiry on the SERIALST online discussion list in which they shared their impressions on several issues relating to their role, status, motivation, and general perceptions about their work. For many years, there has been an ongoing debate relating to the role of paraprofessionals in libraries. Many library paraprofessionals have advanced their careers in the field of serials and have become managers of high-level operations. This Balance Point column explores the experiences of some of these paraprofessional serials managers.     

Electronic Journal Forum: Update on CONSER Summit Recommendations

Abstract

The CONSER Summit, held in March 2004, was a meeting of representatives from all library service areas, the serials industry, and standards communities. It was organized as an opportunity for the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) to shape strategies on the provision and sharing of metadata for electronic resources. This column is an update on actions taken on some of the summit recommendations     

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.     

IFLA Library Reference Model,RDA, and Serials in a Nutshell

Abstract

IFLA Library Reference Model (IFLA LRM) represents the consolidation of Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR) and the two other conceptual models of the Functional Requirements (FR) family, the Functional Requirements for Authority Data (FRAD) and the Functional Requirements for Subject Authority Data (FRSAD). IFLA LRM includes a specific section (5.8) devoted to serials. The RDA Steering Committee adopted IFLA LRM as the conceptual model for the development of RDA in November 2016. The 3R (RDA Toolkit Restructure and Redesign) Project’s purpose is partly to make RDA compatible with the IFLA LRM. A beta version of the English-language content of the RDA Toolkit, which incorporates the IFLA LRM, was released in June 2018. This column explores, in lay terms, serials in relation to the IFLA LRM and the RDA Toolkit Restructure and Redesign (3R) Project. The beta version of the restructured and redesigned RDA Toolkit introduces several new concepts relating to serials.     

Managing Serials in an Institutional Repository: An Interview With Kay Teel

ABSTRACT

In this interview from March 2017, Kay Teel, metadata librarian for serials and arts resources at the Stanford University Libraries, discusses the issues involved in providing access to serials through an institutional repository.     

Management of Electronic Serials in Academic Libraries: The Results of an Online Survey

Abstract

This article presents the results of an online survey of academic librarians conducted in 2011 on the topic of electronic serials management. Since online journals had by 2011 become a major part of academic library serials collections, a central objective of this survey was to explore whether this had led to any degree of standardization in online serials management procedures across academic libraries. The focus of the survey was generally on issues affecting technical services, specifically exploring the impact of electronic serials on collection development, library staffing, and serials management tools. The responses to the survey did not reflect any significant level of uniformity among these libraries in any of these areas, suggesting that libraries primarily take into account the needs of their own institutions when formulating procedures for managing online serials.     

Formal Serials Education: A Problem We Can't Solve or a Solution We Can Live With?

Abstract

Serialists have long believed their field is underrepresented in the library and information science (LIS) curriculum. A recent review of Web sites of ALA-accredited LIS programs shows no significant change in the percentage of formal serials courses in those programs. The problem of adequate formal serials education is examined in the broader context of LIS education as a whole. Increasing traditional, formal serials education is an impractical goal. Instead, we should develop continuing education opportunities, and work to dispel some of the mystique of serials.     

Little Magazines and Translations

Abstract

Serials and the serials information chain have changed rapidly since the development of the electronic journal. Many recent developments are briefly described, including electronic resource management systems (ERMS) and functional requirements for bibliographic records (FRBR). The constantly changing nature of serials is compared to a psychological midlife crisis.     

Nursing Research Journals

Abstract

Recent discussions concerning the mission and direction of graduate programs in library and information science (LIS) have become heated. In a response to a call for greater communication between practitioners and LIS educators, eight librarians who are relatively recent graduates of LIS graduate programs offer their views on what they wish their programs had taught them about serials. All are either working in serials or have serials experience. Serials Review 2003; 29:26–35.     

Serials Workflow Adaptation and the New ILS

Abstract

This article examines serials workflow adaptation at Notre Dame University Libraries in the context of migration from the NOTIS LMS to the Aleph 500 ILS. In addition to detailing three specific workflows—check-in, claiming, and binding—in NOTIS versus Aleph 500, the authors discuss the workflow adaptation process in general. Emphasis is placed not only on the pragmatic side of the process but also on its psychological aspects. The last section of the article outlines several suggestions for how to deal with expectations for workflow that simply do not match a new system's functionality. Serials Review 2002; 28:298–315.     

Is Check-In Checking Out?

Abstract

Technological innovations have made changes in library procedures commonplace. Nonetheless, many librarians have been startled by the University of Nevada at Reno's decision to quit checking in print serials. Four serialists address the future of serials acquisitions in light of the technological advances that continue to transform library procedures. Serials Review 2003; 29:224–229.     

Document Delivery as a Supplement or Replacement for Serial Subscriptions

Abstract

Increasing serials costs and shrinking budgets present challenges for academic libraries to continue providing sufficient access to scholarly articles. Rapid document delivery services can serve as an effective means to fill the gap caused by serials cancellations. This column examines several of the existing document delivery service providers and addresses issues involved in their implementation.