NASIG Newsletter

22nd CONFERENCE 

POSTER SESSIONS
Reported by Sally Gibson

There were fourteen poster sessions at the meeting this year.  It was the largest number ever presented at a NASIG conference.  The topics covered included: the CONSER standard record, managing electronic resources, consortial Partnerships, usage statistics, and relocating departments and journal collections.  Unfortunately, I was not able to view all of the poster sessions.

Hedge Your Bet to Improve the Odds of Going the Distance: Dental Theses Journal Citation Analysis
Janice Cox, Indiana University

Dental students rely on scholarly literature from core dental journals as well as a diverse selection of journals representing other medical disciplines.  When considering collection development the emphasis and expenditure should be on the most recently published.  The acquisition of e-journal backfiles is not critical since students use current journal citations and a print backfile is readily available.

Taking a Gamble: Venturing into the Development of an Electronic Resources Management System
Nancy Beals, Wayne State University

When developing and implementing their ERM system, Wayne State University used the following key factors: determining user groups and their needs; implementations and technical issues; testing the system; analyzing how the system will be used; setting future goals; and acknowledging outside considerations.

Maximizing Access through Consortial Partnership: Mississippi State University Libraries’ Journal Expansion Project
Patrick Carr, Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University Libraries participate in several consortial partnerships to gain online access to journals in which one partner library maintains a subscription.  Many libraries have a subscription to the same journal.  In order to gain access to additional journals, MSU identified their journals which were duplicated by other libraries.  The library was able to cancel the duplicate subscriptions and begin a subscription to sixty new titles which further expanded their access to e-journals.
 
Coming Down the Backstretch of Moving Technical Services Out of the Library and into a Dedicated Facility: Will This Be a Long Shot or a Sure Bet?
Germaine Wadeborn, UCLA

During July 2006 to March 2007, the UCLA Library moved its technical services operation to an off campus location and it reorganized the Serials and Monographs divisions of the Print Acquisitions department.  Seven full time employees were transferred to the Print Acquisitions department.  This resulted in a redesign of workflows.  The technical services department faced the challenge of developing new workflows; creating a new organization; and maintaining quality and timely service while moving to a new location.   

“Yes, As a Matter of Fact, We Are Throwing Those Away”: A Small Public University Deals with De-Selection
Randall Watts, University of South Carolina Aiken

After an extensive renovation to the library building did not result in additional space, the library examined the non-current print titles as a potential source for space.  Criteria for de-selection were established and the titles identified.  Any requests to add the journals to departments were denied since the library did not want to encourage the creation of departmental libraries.  The faculty was informed of the de-selection of the journals and their silence was viewed as consent.

Partners in Space: Integrating Periodicals and Government Documents
Janette Prescod, University of Tennessee

The creation of an Information Commons required a reorganization of library space.  The Periodicals and Government Documents units were combined as a way to address the need for additional space, the challenge of staffing two service desks, and the issues of workflow.  The result was increased study areas and work spaces, public services concentrated on the first floor, and the identification of inefficiencies and low-priority processes.

Designing a Local Database for Usage Statistics
Brian McDonald, SUNY College at Oswego

The library designed their own database to manage and present usage statistics for journals in all formats.  Due to budget concerns and the need for greater flexibility, the library created a usage database that was built on a Microsoft Access database rather than purchase an ERM product. The data is stored in three tables and queries are used to combine the tables and produce various reports.  More information is available at http://oswegoserials.pbwiki.com.

“I Need to Find an Article on…”: What Librarians Need to Know about How Patrons Look for Journal Articles on the Library Website
Sarah Sutton, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi

The library is in the process of concluding a two year website redesign.  It conducted user centered evaluations using formal usability tests among the undergraduates.  The evaluations were a basis for both redesign decisions and determining undergraduate information seeking behaviors.   

The CONSER Standard Record
Les Hawkins and Hien Nguyen, Library of Congress

The CONSER standard record launched June 1 and is projected to save twenty to twenty-five percent of the time needed to create current serials records.  It will apply to all formats, replace existing multiple record levels and reduce serials cataloging costs.  Additional information is available at http://www.loc.gov/acq/conser.

Using Open Source Software to Build Your Tools
Laurentiu Mircea Stefancu, University of Illinois at Chicago

Cat Stats was created to gather daily, monthly, and annual cataloging statistics.  The manual method of gathering statistics was prone to error.  Cat Stats allows the same tasks to be performed faster, easier, and more accurately.  It uses PHP at the front end and MySQL at the back end.  Advantages to using custom built tools are that they can be adjusted as needed.  The disadvantage is the need to maintain in-house expertise. 

The SUPERFECTA - The Best Bet for Winning the Electronic Derby
Rebecca Martinez, Rutgers University

Rutgers University Libraries developed a team approach to handling the workflow for electronic resources.  The team consisted of members from the Acquisitions Department and the Distributed Technical Services Department and it utilized a communication email listserv.  The creation of the team eliminated confusion on who to contact for what; removed failure points; and developed and expanded staff expertise and awareness of electronic resource material. 

A Comparison of Journal Impact Factor to Journal Use in a University Library
C. Derrik Hiatt, Brigham Young University

While the journal impact factor has been used as a selection tool for academic libraries, few studies have been conducted to determine how closely it parallels journal usage by students.  Ninety journals were examined in four disciplines.  There is a statistically significant correlation in history and geology but no correlation in business or organic chemistry.  The results do not support using the journal impact factor as a predictor of use since the correlation of the impact factor to usage is tied to discipline.

Making a Silk Purse from a Sow’s Ear
Chandra Jackson, University of Georgia

Comprehensive Serials Information Databases Eases Journal Cuts
Raleigh Muns, University of Missouri-St. Louis

CALL FOR POSTER SESSIONS
Rachel Frick and Sarah George, PPC Co-Chairs 

The NASIG Program Planning Committee (PPC) invites poster session proposals for the 22nd NASIG conference in Louisville, Kentucky, May 30 – June 3, 2007. The theme of the conference is “Place Your Bet in Kentucky:  The Serials Gamble.”  Posters will be on display in the conference registration area of the Galt House at 9:30-5:30 on Friday, June 1. Presenters should be available to discuss their topics during two break periods during this day. 

Poster sessions provide an opportunity to share innovative ideas and new applications of technology. Sessions may present a report of a research study, an analysis of a practical problem-solving effort, or a description of an innovative program that may be of interest to the serials community. In keeping with NASIG’s tradition of non-commercialism, poster sessions focusing solely on a commercial product will not be accepted. 

To apply, complete the online application form at: http://www.nasig.org/public/forms/poster.html 

Deadline for submission: Applications must be received by 5 p.m. EST on Thursday, March 15, 2007.  Members of the PPC’s Sub-committee on Poster Sessions will evaluate abstracts. Presenters will be notified by April 2, 2007. 

Inquiries may be sent to the PPC co-chairs, Rachel Frick or Sarah George at: prog-plan@nasig.org.

POSTER SESSIONS

Reported by Maggie Wineburgh-Freed 

The ten posters on display at this year’s meeting covered a wide variety of topics: usage statistics for collection development, economics in various situations, archival preservation of state-issued electronic serials, and integrated management were just some of the issues presented. 

Continuing Use of Print-Only Information by Researchers: A Study of Impact Factor as One Measure
Steven A. Knowlton, Proquest 

“Analysis shows that there is no relationship between a journal’s impact factor and its online status; impact factors did not rise for journals going online, nor did they remain stagnant or decrease for journals remaining available only in print.” 

This poster described a research study examining the change in impact factor before and after selected journals became available online. 

I felt the tables were rather complex to be effective in a poster format, but it was an interesting study, with negative results. 

The complete study can be viewed at http://www.freewebs.com/stevenknowlton/access.pdf. 

What’s It Worth? Coursepack Permissions in E-journal Licenses
Athena Hoeppner, University of Central Florida 

“To estimate the monetary value of the permissions, the author surveyed coursepack article content, estimated copyright charges, determined the overlap between coursepacks and e-journal articles, and calculated the potential copyright savings.” 

This poster was a comparison of potential savings due to licenses permitting coursepack use. Larger schools might realize more substantial savings.  In a survey and analysis of the 669 items in 236 coursepacks, it was interesting that only 22% of the material came from journal articles.  

Connecting Your ILS with an Outside Accounting System
JoAnne Deeken, University of Tennessee 

“Who is involved in making the connection? How do you get the attention of those who run the wider accounting system? Which staff are involved? How do you analyze the change in workload? What kinds of information have to agree between the two systems? Who does the work? When is it done?“ 

This was a visually excellent poster, discussing the myriad issues that need to be analyzed in making such a change.  It presented the process as “a modified form of chutes and ladders” making it clear that the process involves “a considerable amount of back and forth.” 

A to Z List vs. Catalogue Access to E-serials Titles at the University of Windsor
Jonathan David Makepeace, University of Windsor  

This poster described the factors considered in making the decision about whether to devote staff resources to the cataloging process or maintenance of the SFX knowledgebase for electronic journals.  Many factors, both pro and con, were considered for each decision. One interesting factor was the discovery that “users access online journal titles via the A-Z list 85% of the time vs. 15% for the catalogue.” 

The poster is available on the web at: http://makepeace.ca/nasig. 

To Renew or Not to Renew Databases - That is the Question: A Practical Approach to Collecting and Disseminating Electronic Usage Statistics as a Tool for Collection Development
Susanne Clement, University of Kansas 

The poster described the processes and levels of staff (from librarians to paraprofessionals to students) used at the University of Kansas for collecting electronic resource usage statistics and disseminating them to bibliographers.  

“Ensuring that bibliographers have turn-key access to comparative electronic usage statistics can be accomplished at a fairly low expense. However, it requires that a detailed methodology be developed for the whole process, from collecting the data from vendors’ websites, to developing an internal website that provides easy access to the data, to the monthly updating of all material and links.” 

Indexing Lag Time Between Current Contents and Web of Science
Gary Ives, Texas A&M University Libraries  

This poster reported on a research project to compare the currency of the two products. One group of titles consisted of 25 randomly-selected titles from each of the seven Current Contents sections, and another group consisted of the titles ranked with the highest impact factor in each Journal Citation Reports subject area.   

“Over 75% of the updates made to Web of Science are within 7 days of Current Contents; over 99% are within 14 days… A continuing subscription to Current Contents is more important for the features of the platform than for the content, which is quickly duplicated in Web of Science.” 

Through the Looking Glass: Content, Integration and Access - Staff Workflows and Client Pathways
Dianne Gordon Conyers, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Medical Library  

This poster presented an outline of the transformation of content management processes in the library, focusing on integration of electronic and print materials, as well as integration of staff procedures and practices.  A clear and simple presentation showed examples of improvements that were made which have impacted both clients and staff. 

Rising Journal Costs: Comparing Local Collections to the National Average
Sarah Sutton, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and Christine Freeman, Texas A&M University-Kingsville  

This poster compared cost increase data for full collections and for relevant subject areas at each of the institutions to national average cost increases.  “It is our hope that others will be able to replicate our comparison and use their results as a tool for raising awareness among their constituents of both the crisis in serial costs and of alternative means of scholarly communication like open access publishing.” 

You Can See Forever: Archiving New Mexico Digital Serials for the Future
Timothy Skeers, New Mexico State Library  

This poster was a visually pleasing outline describing staff workflow and the process that is being used in archiving material that was issued electronically, primarily by New Mexico state government agencies. It is an attempt to rescue some electronic-only government publications from becoming extinct.  “Our workflow uses both reference and technical services staff to select, catalog and harvest these materials. To date we have archived over 1500 issues of digital serial publications.”   

Adding Vendor Subscription Format Data to Library Systems to Aid in Finding Subscription Format Discrepancies
Michaelyn Haslam and Xiaoyin Zhang, University of Nevada, Las Vegas 

This poster described a method to incorporate format information from vendor records into ILS records.  The authors are using this project to clean up title records in the ILS, correcting title ID numbers and adding the format information.  Data from the vendor and from the ILS are imported into a spreadsheet and filtered to identify discrepancies.  Utility of the procedure would depend on whether information can be exported from the vendor in a usable format, and whether information can be added to the ILS records.