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Periodicals Department
2003 – 2004 Annual Report
Activities

Implemented the SIRSI Unicorn Work Flows Serial Control module.

Switched the means by which the electronic journals list was accessed from a server
based at Montclair State University to one hosted by Serials Solutions.

Implemented a print title usage count for bound volumes and single issues excluding
newspapers and magazines on display from September 2003 through May 2004.
Trends/Changes/Problems:
 $554,261.22 was spent in FY 2004, a drop of $101,887.36 from $656,148.58 in FY
2003.

Spent $177,341.95 on electronic database subscriptions (32%) of the total periodical
budget while $339,335 (61%) was

spent on print subscriptions.

Due to cuts in the Library’s materials budget, a comprehensive review of existing
periodical, reference and microfilm subscriptions was performed. After careful
evaluation the Department was able to cancel @$20,000 of microfilm subscriptions
and @$85,000 print subscriptions.

Almost 700 print titles were canceled due to cuts in the Library’s materials budget.
Spent time reviewing print title subscriptions for which the online version (full-text)
were available. As a result of this careful but time consuming review, loss of access
to these print titles did not occur since almost all had online equivalent from several
of the electronic journal databases we subscribe to.

The switch of the electronic journals list to the Serials Solutions server made the list
more up-to-date.

Serial control patterns were created by two classified staff members of the
Periodicals Department along with the three professional catalogers in the
Cataloging Department. Staff began to check-in periodical and reference issues
using the new automated serials system.
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The two-day training workshop given by the SIRSI trainer in June 2003 and
attended by the Periodicals, Cataloging and Government Documents staff was not
enough to learn the intricacies of creating serial control patterns. Many questions
were not answered at the workshop.

Periodical pick-ups dropped slightly from 19, 095 pick-ups in AY 2003 to 19, 006 for
AY 2004.

The Department would like to request a blanket part-time person for FY 2005 for
Sunday. Although the pick-up count continues to decrease there are other public
service and e-journal access issues a more mature blanket person can resolve rather
than a student assistant.

The number of electronic only periodical subscriptions increased from 1,445 in AY
2003 to 1,715 in AY 2004 while the number of print subscriptions dropped from
1,938 in AY 2003 to 1,229 in AY 2004.

The Department Head continued to assist at the Reference desk for two hours per
week per semester in AY 2004.
Goals for AY 2004-2005

Continue to review print title subscriptions and work faculty to identify periodical
print titles for possible cancellation in AY 2005.

Review and recommend additional e-journal full-text databases to increase the
Library’s electronic journal collection and support the University’s curriculum.

Create an Excel statistical spreadsheet in order to record periodical usage by title for
AY 2004.

Integrate the periodicals print and microfilm holdings list with the electronic journal
list to create one list containing all periodicals to which patrons would have access
regardless of format.

Continue to work with the Cataloging staff on procedures dealing with the SIRSI
Unicorn Work Flows Serial module. Learn to create reports in SIRSI by consulting
the Head of Cataloging.
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Periodicals Staff
Eduardo Gil
Librarian, Public Services Division
Professional Activities, 2003-2004
Memberships:

NASIG (North American Serials Interest Group) 1993 to date

ALA/ACRL (NJ Chapter) 1980 to date

Member, Sprague Library Building Committee

Member, Collection Resources Management Team

Member, Latin American/Latino Studies Executive Board

Liaison to the Spanish/Italian Department
Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, Lectures and Exhibits Attended:

Attended monthly meetings of the Library’s Administrative Council.

Attended several meetings of the Library’s Budget Committee.

Attended a meeting of the Collection Resources Management Team [April 2004]

Attended a workshop sponsored by VALE, “Electronic Resources Usage Statistics”
held at the Alexander Library, School of Communication Center, Rutgers University,
New Brunswick, NJ [November 2003]

Attended a meeting with the new College of Humanities and Social Sciences faculty
held in Sprague Library [November 2003]

Attended a FileMaker Pro workshop held at Montclair State University and sponsored
by Information Technology [January 2004]

Attended the VALE User’s Conference held at the Busch Campus Center, Rutgers
University Piscataway, NJ [January 2004]
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
Attended a workshop sponsored by the NJ Chapter of ACRL, NJLA College and
University Section, “Visions 2014: The Academic Library of the Future” held at
Fairleigh Dickinson University, College of Florham Park Library, Madison, NJ [May
2004]
Presentations

One of four speakers at the Academic Libraries Roundtable “Trend Toward the
Digital Future” workshop sponsored by NJ Association of Library Assistants and held
at the Walsh Library, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ [June 2004]
Other Periodical Staff members
Sergio Ferreira
Principal Library Assistant, Public Services Division

Attended meeting between Dr. Susan Cole and Library staff [October 2003]

Attended meeting and workshop sponsored by the Cataloging Department on the
SIRSI Unicorn Work Flows Serials module [March 2004]

Attended the Sprague Library Retreat [May 2004]
Eric Samuelson
Senior Library Assistant, Public Services Division

President, Local 1031 CWA Branch, 2000 to date

Attended meeting between Dr. Susan Cole and Library staff [October 2003]

Attended the Sprague Library Retreat [May 2004]
Gerard Callahan
Senior Library Assistant, Public Services Division

Attended meeting between Dr. Susan Cole and Library staff [October 2003]

Attended meeting and workshop sponsored by the Cataloging Department on the
SIRSI Unicorn Work Flows Serials module [March 2004]

Attended the Sprague Library Retreat [May 2004]
John Amorison
50% Library Assistant, Public Services Division
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