Lynn,

I've never "chimed in" on this subject, but I thought I should here.

We have a collection between 250-300 current titles, and we wouldn't consider
not checking in.  For one thing, it's the only way you know whether/not you receive
issues - how would you be able to claim in a timely fashion if you didn't know it was
missing?

We also are a union shop -- but actually, you're not allowed to say "not my job":
the union "take" on things is: do the work first, grieve it later.  So, half the battle is
writing the job description to include what you need (I belong to the same union as
the folks I supervise).  A good phrase for performance programs: "other duties
as assigned."

My advice would be to do a brief plan that "breaks down" the individual tasks here:
    --mail check-in (date/property stamping) -- any student can do this, even one from
         outside the cataloging/serials area.
    --physical check-in on your LMS -- this is more time consuming, but really shouldn't
         take more than 30-45 min. or so of anyone's day.  If it's split among two or
         more people, you could shave it down to 15-20 min/person.
    --shelving the issues in order
        --when check-in on the LMS is happening, with a pile the size you're talking about,
            it's fairly easy to keep them in clno. order as they're checked-in.
        --when checking-in, if itty-bitty post-its are used for notes on issues requiring special handling
            (i.e., pull earliest issue when new issue is shelved), it becomes both a trigger
            for a shelver, and extra info when it comes back to the check-in person)
        --students, once again from ANY area, can now be used to shelve -- it shouldn't
           take more than 5 mins. a day, I think -- that's about what we allow for it. (although
           our check-in person prefers to do this herself).

Just a thought...
Sue


On 7/2/2012 4:01 PM, Coakley, Lynn wrote:
To all:
 
I hope this has not been discussed ad nauseum......
 
We have had a retirement effective June 30.  The position won't be re-filled.  The person was the paper periodicals check in person.  We don't have a huge collection any more (approx. 225 titles), but still I can't figure out how to wriggle room from any one else's time.  We are a union shop and people are allowed to say - not  my job - so it's fallen to me and a work study who is good but as we know with work studies, they tend to just vanish.
 
So, my thought is moving toward not checking them in and taking our chances.  We deal with Ebsco whose staff is all so helpful.  I just want to talk with anyone who has made this decision to see if it's been a disaster or if it's been doable.  If this has been discussed to death and I just don't remember (I tend to delete if it's a topic that I'm not interested in at that moment) could you reply to me off list?
 
Thanks very much
 
Lynn
 
(and that doesn't even go to our retiree's acquisitions job)

--
Lynn Coakley
Coordinator of Technical Services
Library
Springfield Technical Community College
One Armory Sq.
Springfield, MA  01102
413.755.4565
fax 413.755.6315

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