There is always the problem of patrons re-shelving their own issues. We have signs up but they are often ignored. We use software we developed locally and is available open source that works. Student assistant re-shelves the issue, comes to the Circ desk opens the program, clicks the title and everything is saved. You can recall the stats by title, date or usage.
Might need your network people to help install it since it uses a database structure, but it is customizable.
Download here http://serialcount.kent.edu/download.cfm
Roger
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Diane Westerfield
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 4:19 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [SERIALST] tracking usage of current print journal issues
In theory you can have a barcode on the shelf that links to a dummy item record which can be counted for browsing. For example you have a barcode on the shelf where Newsweek goes. The barcode is entered in a dummy item record attached to the Newsweek bib. The student/worker doing the reshelving can scan this shelf barcode with a handheld device as issues are reshelved. Each scan counts as a “browse”. The dummy item record is never deleted, hence you won’t lose statistics. When statistics are gathered, the dummy item record will contain the total number of current issue browses, along with the browses for bound volumes.
Of course, this is coarser-grained than barcoding each individual issue. I haven’t worked in libraries that went to that level of detail – maybe other folks can chime in on the finer points.
On another note, scanning the shelf as issues are reshelved requires some supervision, or leaning on supervisors, to make sure the new practice keeps on happening. Otherwise you will soon have issues going back to the shelf with no scanning and all the barcoding/dummy item record creation will have gone for naught, and your statistics will have gone awry. You also have to make sure the handheld scanning devices are kept working, or have backups.
Hope this helps,
Diane Westerfield, Electronic Resources & Serials Librarian
Tutt Library, Colorado College
diane.westerfield@coloradocollege.edu
(719) 389-6661
(719) 389-6082 (fax)
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum [mailto:SERIALST@list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Kathleen Dougherty
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 1:57 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] tracking usage of current print journal issues
Hi,
I’m a new serials librarian. We are barcoding our bound journal issues for inventory and statistical purposes. But with current issues, we'll be deleting those individual barcodes once they are bound and replacing them with one for the bound volume, and would therefore lose the stats associated with those barcodes. I’d be interested to hear how other libraries handle this issue.
Thanks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kate Dougherty
Electronic Resources & Government Documents Librarian
Leonard S. Washington Memorial Library
Southern University at New Orleans
6400 Press Drive
New Orleans, LA 70126
504-286-5222