3. SERIAL is applied in library and information
science to materials “in any medium issued
under the same title in a succession of discrete
parts, usually numbered (or dated) and
appearing at regular or irregular intervals
with no predetermined conclusion”.
4. Functionalities of Serial Control
Subscription of New Journals
Renewal of Journals
Invoice Processing
Payments
Receipts of New Issues
Reminders for missing issues
Browsing Issues
Reports Generation
6. Libraries need methods, such as inventories,
to determine whether their collections are in
good shape, or whether some preservation or
conservation activities are necessary.
How do libraries identify which particular
items sitting on their shelves that may not
have crossed the circulation desk in a number
of years need special attention?
7. Role of Inventory in the Libraries
Libraries have thousands of books; large
academic libraries may have millions of
books; therein lies our problem.
Doing an annual (or less frequent) physical
inventory with the laying on of hands on each
individual item may not be financially
feasible,…
8. …employees required may not have extra time
to devote to such an inventory, and there are
no financial rewards for the Library for
completing an inventory.
Although collecting new materials is viewed
as a central mission of the library,
maintaining the condition of library
collections,
9. …which includes less satisfactory activities
such as;
weeding
book repair
shifting
counting what libraries think they have on
their shelves.
10. Inventory may be a legal requirement that
shows that the libraries are accountable for
the money they have spent throughout the
year.
Checking for lost books and materials can be
similarly compared to auditing.
11. Inventory can also identify anomalies in the
catalog and provide an opportunity to
correct catalog records and labeling of items.
This is also a time when shelves can be
rearranged to minimize overcrowding to
prevent damage.
12. Adelphi University Libraries in 2004
completed a complete physical inventory of
its collections (465,629 volumes) as part of its
strategic planning process utilizing the
Association of College and Research Libraries
Standards for Libraries in Higher Education.
Examining item by item with a barcode
scanner and a laptop.
13. Sampling is a compromise measure, which
can be an important management tool.
Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet
software are used to create samples and
it’s very effective in doing such Inventory.
