Thanks to everyone who replied to my query! I received over 20
responses, with many good ideas. One person suggested using the
SmartCILP TOC service from the Gallagher Law Library, which we do
get in electronic format (but it doesn't cover all that we need). Another
thought that Uncover's Reveal service might be useful. Several warned
against committing copyright violations; the consensus is that copying
TOCs for dissemination is ok, but not copying entire articles or issues.
And one librarian said that for some publications she simply notified the
attorneys that a new issue had been received.
Most respondents said they route either the TOCs or originals of new
materials, using some version of the following:
1. Photocopy and route TOCs. May or may not route any originals.
Have attorneys/secretaries/library staff get copies of articles when
requested. Some people have been able to cut down the number of
subscriptions by routing TOCs and keeping the original in the library,
although it's a problem if someone takes an issue from the library without
signing it out.
2. Have Word Processing or the library staff type TOCs into the
office computer system.
3. Post lists of journal article titles in a daily newsletter.
4. Scan in TOCs. Several respondents expressed interest in doing
this, but only three actually do. Fora couple of librarians this works very
well, but I suspect they have state-of-the-art equipment. Another
librarian tried scanning but it took so long to "clean up" the documents
(due to formats, type faces, etc.) that she went back to typing in TOCs.
(BTW, our current scanning system couldn't begin to handle the variety
of materials we have, so that's out for us until we get better
equipment/programs...).
There were also several ways of routing materials once they were
ready to send. Materials that were scanned or typed into the office
system were, of course, sent electronically. Several use paper routing
lists done in a word processing format: WordPerfect, Word, etc. And a
number use software specifically designed for serials check-in and
generating (paper) routing slips as needed: DataTrek (Eos), InMagic's
DB/TEXTWORKS, DB Master, Q & A, and Ask Sam.
I hope I have sufficiently covered the great variety of procedures used
for these tasks, and really appreciate all your ideas. Another opportunity
for us to think "out of the box". Thanks again!
Barbara Duval
Smith Helms Mulliss & Moore
Charlotte, NC.
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