At K-State, we have done a good bit of cross-training. If you look at KSU's Acq Team home page, our "Order Group" also does monograph or serials copy cataloging. Our "Receiving Group" (regular) is composed of 2 binding staff members and 1 serials copy cataloger; the others in that group are monograph catalogers. Two of the 3 'problem' receivers are serials copy catalogers and 1 of them is primarily responsible for serials acq & invoicing duties; 1 is our principal claims specialist. The "Serials Group" members are also members of the Database Maintenance Team.

Efficiency has increased because materials aren't handed off from acq to cataloging (for both monos and serials) nearly as often; periodical receipt has gone from a high of 10 days lag time from mailroom to current shelves to 24 hour turnaround; there is a better understanding of our acq and cataloging modules and how they interact; there is more empathy for each other; staff appreciate the diversity in their jobs and have higher self esteem. There are numerous other benefits but it's Friday afternoon and I'm beginning to fade...

>>> csimser <csimser@ksu.edu> 06/08/01 09:00AM >>>
>===== Original Message From "SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum"
<SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU> =====
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Cross training / cross staffing between acquisitions
andcataloging
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 15:43:38 -0400
From: Kim Maxwell <kmaxwell@mit.edu>

I'm trying to pull together some information about cross training (or
cross
staffing; I've seen it both ways) between acquisitions staff and
cataloging
staff. I'm mainly focused right now on serials, but the idea really
applies to monographs as well. I've done some searches in Library
Literature but have only hit upon a few articles. I also searched the
SERIALST archives, and it seems that this topic is always a discussion
of
the ALCTS Creative Ideas in Technical Services Discussion
Group. Unfortunately, I've never been to one of their discussion
sessions
(though I think I'll be making every effort to do so in San Francisco
next
week!), and reports from their sessions seem to come through only
sporadically.

Does anyone have a good reading list for this topic? It is one we'd
like
to introduce to our staff, but I'm sure we will have the usual questions
about "Why do I have to learn someone else's job?" and basically the
"what's in it for me" factor will undoubtedly kick on. Also, on a more
academic level, I am interested in knowing how cross training has
increased
efficiency, accuracy, problem solving, etc. Everyone says it's great,
but
I can't seem to find any hard data to back up that assertion.

There was a great NASIG workshop in Ann Arbor in 1997 (before I started
going to NASIG) called "From specialists to generalists: issues and
perspectives on cross-training catalogers" in The Serials Librarian,
v.34
no.3-4 ('98) p.397-402 that was helpful. But, of course, I'm looking
for
more. Other than that, I haven't found much else of use.

Anyone have any ideas? Are any of you out there already doing some
cross
staffing between acquisitions and cataloging, and would you be willing
to
share your experiences, web sites, documentation, theories, ideas, etc.?
Thanks for your help! I'll be glad to share with the list whatever I
find.

Kim

________________________________________
Kim Maxwell
Serials Acquisitions Librarian
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT Libraries, Room 14E-210
77 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
phone: 1-617-253-7028
fax: 1-617-253-2464
email: kmaxwell@mit.edu

===========
Charlene N. Simser
Interim Chair, Technical Services
KSU Libraries
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506
csimser@ksu.edu
(785) 532-7444