Dear Serialists:

We are trying to figure out the best way to let our patrons know what our complete e-journal holdings are.  We are using SFX as a URL handler and A to Z list provider.  Our online catalog is SIRSI. 

NASA Langley has converted most of our serials collection to electronic holdings.  The staff is of mixed opinion on how to handle our electronic holdings, especially if we want to have a single ‘catalog of record.’  Since serials packages change, archive packages keep popping up, vendors are swapped out and subscriptions dropped as budgets change we are finding that maintaining both SFX and the online catalog to be time consuming and a duplication of effort.  (Especially with a staff of 2!)

For example, we have all the Wiley and almost all the Springer journal titles through one of the special package arrangements but we haven’t loaded the 3000+ journal records into our online catalog, only into the URL handler.  And what if we drop one of the packages next year…. 

How are other libraries handling their online holdings?  Are you maintaining the actual holdings in the online catalog?  If so, do you use a URL handler?  If you have a URL handler do you also maintain a complete holdings statement in the catalog? 

Thank you in advance for your replies.

Dorothy Notarnicola

Acquisitions Librarian

NASA Langley Research Center

MS 185 * Bldg 1194 * Room 306

Hampton, VA 23681-2199

Phone: 757-864-7142

Email: dorothy.l.notarnicola@nasa.gov