Marifran Bustion

A Cost Analysis of Discontinuing Security Measures in a Current Periodicals Department

Seven thousand five hundred current periodical titles are housed in the Current Periodicals Department (CPD) of the Sterling C. Evans Library at Texas A&M University. Before 1987 a door guard was posted at the CPD exit to prevent users from leaving the room with periodical issues. When the room was remodeled, security precautions were rescinded for the collection, and users were permitted to take current issues from the CPD proper to read in other locations in the library. A cost analysis is presented of the decision to allow use of current periodicals outside of the CPD. The cost of two alternative security measures is compared to the cost of reshelving, searching, binding and ordering lost and missing issues. Results indicate that the decision to discontinue security in the CPD was a valid one.

Serials control at Texas A&M university: dispersion or integration?

At Texas A&M University, there is no distinct serials department. Rather, there are several units whose primary goals are to maintain serials control, whether by cost, acquisition, receipt, cataloging, or use. This article describes an alternate approach to that of the integrated serials department. Emphasis is placed on problems encountered with scattered units, communication processes used to solve problems and maintain some control over the complexities of serials and changes wrought in the serials operation with the implementation of an integrated library system