The North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG) is an independent organization that promotes communication, understanding, and sharing of ideas among all members of the serials information community.
Just over one year ago, Vassar College instituted a policy of using tabs (like those found on various circulars, newsletters, etc.) to seal all unbound periodicals before shelving them in our reading rooms. In order for a patron to use the periodical, they must break the tab. We are now in the process of collecting our first round of usage data as part of an annual serials review. While we realize the tabs aren't a perfect method, they have given us an idea of how used (or under-used) certain titles are. I am hoping that this assessment of unbound periodical usage will inform decisions about cancellations; our institution has been slow to cancel print resources due to faculty pressure. In the current environment of budget constraints, it is no longer feasible to always keep the print when online access is available. A realistic picture of periodical usage will assist librarians in justifying cancellation/format change decisions. This session will showcase how this data was used by librarians in our serials review and how we discovered problems and refined the tab procedure along the way.
Presenter: Heidy Berthoud, Vassar College Library
Friday June 7, 2013 2:25pm - 3:25pm EDT
Hyatt Grand Ballroom FoyerTwo Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, New York, USA 14202
