Library Serials

What are Serials

Serial - A publication in any medium issued in successive parts bearing numerical or chronological designations and intended to be continued indefinitely. Serials include periodicals, newspapers, annuals (reports, yearbooks, etc.), the journals, memoirs, proceedings, transactions, etc., of societies, and numbered monographic series.

[ALA Glossary]

Serials

Serials are very popular in Academic Libraries, Public Libraries, and Special

Libraries. Serials Provide current information on a

myriad of topics Serials come frequently

How Frequent?

All serials are different, Some come daily ( newspapers) Weekly or Bi Weekly ( magazines) Monthly ( Magazines, Newspapers Journals) Bimonthly ( Journals) Quarterly ( Journals) Annually ( Journals, Yearbooks, Almanacs) Biennial ( Journal, magazine, Special

publications)

What are Periodicals?

Periodical - A serial appearing or intended to appear indefinitely at regular or stated intervals, generally more frequently than annually, each issue of which is numbered orated consecutively and normally containing separate articles, stories, or other writings. Newspapers disseminating general news, and the proceedings, papers, or other publications of corporate bodies primarily related to their meetings are not included in this term.

[ALA Glossary] See also Journal, Magazine.

What are Journals?

Journal - A periodical, especially one containing scholarly articles and/or disseminating current information on research and development in particular subject field.

Journals are used heavily for academic research by undergraduate students.

Journals are often confused with magazines.

Confusing?

Patrons generally get confused between magazines, Journals, periodicals and serials.

Mostly because we in the library profession use these terms interchangeably.

To add to the confusion, we have a new term “ database”

What is it called. Again?

For example: A Journal can be the name of a publication “

the Journal of Abnormal Psychology” Or it can be a type of publication which is

bound : “ Education” A Journal can also be a book ( Filled with

personal entries”

Circulation issues with Serials

Do serials circulate? How do we checkout magazines

Storage

Library Space Microforms On-line Databases

Shifting Deteriorate

Storage

The Biggest issue serials is storage. Depending on how often a periodical comes,

you can end up with a substantial number within a year.

Example: newspapers one subscription equals 365 issues.

Storage

To create better storage for periodicals, many libraries have used the following methods:

Binding magazines and Journals into useable books.

Convert periodicals to microforms. Purchasing On-line databases

Storage

Libraries choose to bind magazines and or journals for several reasons:

Create better storage space for materials Create a longer lasting storage for materials Maximize cost. Maximize library space

Storage

Microform - A general term applied to all forms of micro-reproduction on film or paper

(e.g., microfilm, microfiche, micro opaque). Compare with Macroform. [ALA Glossary]

Microfilm - 1. Photographic film containing micro-images. The term normally refers to roll film sufficiently long to be placed on reels, cartridges, or cassettes and retrieved by manual or automatic means. Images may be positive or negative and rolls may be 8, 16, 35, or 70 millimeters wide and up to several thousand feet long. Rolls can be cut to produce microfiche, micro strips, or chips to be inserted in jackets or used in other ways.

storage

Microfiche - A flat sheet of photographic film, usually 4 by 6 inches or 3 by 5 inches, containing micro-images arranged in a grid pattern. Most microfiche contain a title or general descriptive data at the top (the header) that can be read without magnification. The header may also be color-coded. The last frame on a microfiche may contain an index to the micro-images. The number of frames on a sheet depends on the reduction

ratio and formatting. Microfiche can be produced from strips of microfilm or made directly with a step-and-repeat camera and computer-output-microfilm recorder.

Synonymous with fiche. [ALA Glossary, modified]

Microforms

Microforms are a cost effective way to keep multiple copies of periodical for long periods of time.

Patrons do not really like Microforms, because they require a fair amount of skill to be able to use successfully.

Further they need to be stored on cool conditions, this is why most microforms collections can be found in the bottom floor or library basement. ( rooms without windows)