[Genealib] Ways of treating genealogical periodicals?

[Vonnie]

Our libary is a medium sized public library, with a family and local history 
room.  Most of our genealogical periodicals
are donated by the local historical/genelogical society.  They were shelved 
separately in the past.  When we moved into our new room, we rearranged the 
periodicals into geographic locations, classified them just like we do the 
books, and interfield them with the books.  This has increased usage a great 
deal.
Most are loose copies in pamphlet boxes, and we place a call number label on 
the boxes.

The Allen County Public Library's Periodical Source Index (which we have on 
HeritageQuest) has helped patrons identify articles
in various periodicals.

Thank you,

Vonnie Shelton
Local and Family History
McCracken County Public Library
555 Washington Street
Paducah, KY 42003
270-442-2510 Ext. 24
specialcol at mcilb.net



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barbara Hill" <bhill at calmail.berkeley.edu>
To: <genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 1:01 AM
Subject: [Genealib] Ways of treating genealogical periodicals?


> Dear List,
>
> A question has come up at our genealogical society library regarding how 
> periodicals are treated in other genealogical collections.  It's my 
> impression that many public libraries segregate their periodicals on 
> different shelving, usually arranged in alphabetical order by title.  If 
> so, how come?  Does this have anything to do with the Dewey Decimal 
> system?
>
> Our library uses LC call numbers, and the periodicals all have LC numbers 
> assigned to them and are interfiled with the books.  Unbound issues are 
> shelved in pamphlet boxes next to the bound volumes.  It seems to me that 
> the LC call number system lends itself very well to a geographic shelving 
> arrangement and facilitates browsing.  Is there any logical reason to 
> remove the periodicals and shelve them separately?
>
> Some of our members who have been to the Allen County Library in Fort 
> Wayne report that their periodicals are shelved separately but arranged 
> geographically, probably because they get so many titles.  Does this work 
> well?  What is done with titles which cut across geographic boundaries to 
> concentrate on (for example) an ethnic group?  I have some dim 
> recollection that Allen County possibly used to have closed stacks - would 
> this have any influence on how periodicals are shelved?
>
> For those who choose to reply, either directly to me or to the list, my 
> specific questions would be:
>
> 1) your type of library - public? academic? genealogical/historical 
> society? other?
> 2) how your periodicals are shelved, and your opinion of it?
> 3) whether your library uses Dewey or LC, and whether you think this has 
> any bearing?
> 4) whether you have closed or open stacks, and whether this has any 
> bearing?
> 5) (optional)  If you had to start over from scratch, what would you do 
> differently?
>
> Thank you all very much!
>
> Barbara Hill
> Library Committee member
> California Genealogical Society
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> genealib mailing list
> genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
> http://mailman.acomp.usf.edu/mailman/listinfo/genealib
>