Periodicals inside periodicals

I keep seeing periodicals that have not been put away neatly. In some cases I'll find one magazine stuck inside another. If you see any periodicals in folders that don't look neat, please fix them. If they have to be bent in order to be neat, make sure they are all bent in the same direction.

Cambridge Journals

Cambridge Journals will be inaccessible online from 7:00PM on Saturday until 5:00PM on Sunday. These are e-journals that are offered directly through Cambridge. So, for example, if someone wants the journal Sociology, you'll find the following in the e-journal search:

Sociology [0038-0385]
Cambridge University Press
Available from 1998 v.: 32 issue: 3 until 2001 v.: 35 issue: 4.
Sage Publications
Available from 1999 volume: 33 issue: 1.

You would want to choose the Sage Publications portal instead of Cambridge.

You probably won't get any requests for these journals, but I just wanted to make a point. If you don't succeed in finding someone a journal through one method, try another. If they can't access it online, see if it's in print. If they can't get it in print, see if it's online. Never leave them hanging with no options. If you can't find anything anywhere, recommend CLS or Interlibrary loan.

Just a few things

I looked at the daily assignment sheets that you have been filling out. As it turns out, it is a good way to find out who is doing most of the reshelving. Just make sure you write it down so I don't think that you are slacking. If there is no reshelving to do, make a note.

We also expect you to do pickups each time you come in for a shift. There might be nothing out there, but you should check anyways. If periodicals are off the shelf for too long, they get lonely. Periodicals don't like to be away from their friends for too long.

What else? Oh yeah, as part of our new microform responsibilities, we are also charged with reshelving the microfilm and microfiche. This means when you do reshelving, you should check to see if there is any microform to be reshelved (or redrawered as the case may be). We will start taking statistics on microform usage soon, so STAY TUNED.

Dissertations and Theses

We are now in charge of a few thousand dissertations and theses. There are a couple of ways to access them.

1. Dissertations and Theses (Proquest) - Many of our dissertations and theses have been scanned and put online. They are kept in a database called Dissertations and Theses. Here is a link to an A-Z list of databases that can be accessed from the library's homepage. Scroll down to Dissertations and Theses and click the link to see what it looks like.

http://bender.library.american.edu:8083/php/databases_a_z.php

This is the first and best place to look for a dissertation or thesis. Usually patrons will have the title or the author, so you can do a search by either title or author. Not every dissertation or thesis is online. If you don't find a full-text version in the database, you'll need to move on to option 2...

2. Theses and Dissertations that you don't find online can be found on microform, and you can find them in the back with the other microform materials. How do you know where to find them? Dissertations and theses are identified by a four digit number in the catalog. You'll have to either get that four-digit number from the patron or look up the thesis or dissertation in the catalog. They are catalogued much like books, so they each one has its own record. Holdings information in the catalog will look something like this:

Location: AU: LIB Microform Thesis (Non-Circulating)
Call Number: Thesis 4044
Number of Items: 1
Status: Available

Once you find the four digit number, (I.E. 4044), you can show the patron where to get the microform for the thesis. Take note, You'll need a key to open the thesis cabinets. The key is on the same chain as the compact storage keys hanging on the bulletin board. Please be careful not to lose the key. We keep the theses locked up because they are often the only copies in existence. If you have any questions about theses, don't hesitate to ask us.

Periodicals Have Feelings Too

When you put current periodicals away, you have a couple of options. You can just throw them in the folder so that they look disheveled and disorganized. Or, you can put them away NEATLY. We obviously prefer the latter option. We don’t want to see periodicals all bent out of shape and warped because they weren’t put away neatly. We’d rather you take your time and get it right. Don’t make the periodicals angry.

Binding

As you know, when folders are ripe and juicy and full of journals, they are harvested and sent to the bindery. This process takes about two weeks. How do you know something is at the bindery? Check the catalog. Look for a note in the “Recent issues” section to tell whether the issue you’re looking for is at the bindery. The note will tell you when that issue is expected to return.

Sometimes, if we don’t have a complete volume of something, we’ll hold it in the back until we can order the missing issue. If that is the case, you may not be able to find the issue you are looking for. Don’t hesitate to ask David or Mark if there is a recent issue or whole volume that is missing. Chances are we know where to find it.

Daily Assignment Sheets

Please make sure you fill out the daily assignment sheets in this booklet in their entirety. This is your chance to let us know how you are a contributing member of the Periodicals team. Did you do reshelving? Write it down! Did you check the search slips? Write it down! Did something weird happen during your shift? Write it down!

Also, if you do any special projects for us, write that down too. These can include shifting, pulling old newspapers, cleaning, or any project you might think of on your own. If you have any ideas about how to improve service, let David or Harvey know.

Periodicals Daily News

Take note! The newspapers have moved. They are now located on the far right wall of Periodicals. The Washington Post, New York Times, Financial Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal are located on one side. On the other side, along the wall, you will find domestic papers typically devoted to a specific subject. Foreign and U.S. regional papers are still located in folders out on the floor.

The large magazine section has grown! Glossy magazine-type publications that were previously filed with newspapers are now part of the large magazine section. So if you’re looking for Advertising Age, Rolling Stone, or Variety, look in the large magazine section. Makes sense, right? When in doubt, check the catalog. Records have been updated to reflect the changes.