CDL: Volume equivalents (2 responses)

[original posting followed by responses]

From: "DeGennaro, June Prof." <June.Degennaro_at_quinnipiac.edu>

Hello,

This is probably basic library 101 stuff, but I confess I don’t know
it; I am compiling statistics for a collection report which is asking
for volume equivalents. Is there a ‘magic’ formula for figuring the
collection size of bound and unbound journals, microfiche, and
microforms?  I checked ACRL standards and guidelines without success.

Thanks for your help

June DeGennaro
Arnold Bernhard Library
Quinnipiac University
275 Mount Carmel Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518
203-582-8944

==#1==

From:
"Mitch Turitz, CFA Chapter President, SFSU" <turitz_at_sfsu.edu>

June,
   Assuming you are asking about how to determine how many PHYSICAL 
volumes are in your collection:  there is no rule regarding serials 
that can be universally applied, so you can't have a rule like: 4 
quarterly issues equals one volume, unless there is a special 
cumulative index published separately every X years, yadda, yadda, 
yadda.  Unfortunately physical volumes are determined by thickness of 
the issues and the individual who handles bindery must figure out what 
is a bindable unit for each title, throughout the life of a 
periodical.  Such titles may change thickness as it splits into 2 
titles, or absorbs another one, or reduces size as it loses advertising.

   If you look through your bound periodical stacks you may decide 
that 4 seasons equal one volume, or 12 monthlies equal one volume, or 
3 months worth of a monthly equals one physical volume, etc.

   The only reliable approach, in my opinion, is to barcode all the 
physical volumes, which you need to do anyway if you have an automated 
circulation system along with your OPAC.  Once every item that is in 
your collection has a barcode, you can sort collections based on the 
location (e.g. Periodicals Collection) or fund codes, etc. and then 
have the system generate counts of the barcodes in that set of paramaters.

   If you do not have the items barcoded, you may want to make up your 
own formula, inaccurate as it may be, assuming that one volume (as 
defined by the publisher) equals one physical volume. E.g. for an 
annual, there would be 1 vol. per year, for a quarterly there would be 
one volume a year, etc., just the number of issues inside the volume 
may not always be the same.

   I hope that helps?

-- Mitch Turitz

   _^_                                                 _^_
(___)-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ( ___ )
|   |                                               |   |
|   |     Mitch Turitz, Serials Librarian           |   |
|   |     San Francisco State University Library    |   |
|   |     President,                                |   |
|   |     SFSU California Faculty Association       |   |
|   |     voice: (415) 338-7883                     |   |
|   |     CFA:   (415) 338-6232                     |   |
|   |     FAX:   (415) 405-0394                     |   |
|   |                                               |   |
(___)-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-==- ( ___ )
   V                                                   V
           http://www.cfasf.org   (SFSU web site)
                   cfasf_at_igc.org) or Mitch Turitz (x. 87883; 
turitz_at_sfsu.edu)
                        &
           http://www.calfac.org/  (CFA State-wide web site)

==#2==

From:
Lori Schwabenbauer <lschwaben_at_holyfamily.edu>

I would guess that, since most journals are bound a year at a time, 
one year's worth of the current unbound journal or the journal in 
microform would be equal to one volume.

Lori

Lori A. Schwabenbauer, MSLS
Director of Library Services
Holy Family University
9701 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA  19114
215-637-7700 x3314  //  fax 215-632-8067
Lschwaben_at_holyfamily.edu
http://www.holyfamily.edu/library/