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2 Trends L. Libr. Mgmt. & Tech. 1 (1988-1989)

handle is hein.journals/ttllmt2 and id is 1 raw text is: Trends in Law Library Management and Technology Vol. 2, No. 1 Dennis J. Stone, Editor July-August 1988 Technological Changes in Tech Services-A Case Study By MARK ESTES, Holme, Roberts 8c Owen n July 1987, we (like many other law libraries) had been talking about automating our serials system-talking forever. For us, the lack of a li- brary microcomputer and adequate software for the firm's minicomputer combined to keep us sitting on our hands. Finally, a number of events coalesced: 1. The firm loaded a dBASE-like database management program on its minicomputer; 2. Karl Beiser published Essential dBASE Guide for Libraries, a collection of data struc- tures and programs; 3. The existing kardex was running out of space and many cards were full; 4. We had outgrown the total serials system; 5. The library staff was very open to automating. Taking a baby step towards automating, in August we began using a modification of Beiser's acquisitions program. We scanned program listings onto the computer (they are available on floppies), but because of some command lan- guage differences, extensive editing was required before the program would run. In retrospect, the unexpected editing proved beneficial. Editing the acquisition program taught me much about Manager, so that when actual work on the serials database began, I knew more of the program's capabilities and could effectively involve the serials clerk and the tech- nical services librarian in resolving policy ques- tions and customizing it to meet our needs. One of -those questions concerned how much historical data we needed. Our software and hardware could not easily handle a year's worth of records for even a monthly title. After discussing and analyzing the kinds of serials questions we might ask the system (e.g., will we really care when an 18-month-old CCH Federal and Secu- rities Law Reporter release is received?), we decided that four issues would be enough infor- mation. Four historical issues seems to be enough time to identify, claim and receive any of our missing serials issues. Customizing the screen displays, based on ideas and suggestions from the library staff, made everyone feel part of the process and re- duced the stress of the change. This team effort truly resulted in a superior system. After testing with a small file of records, we began building the actual database. First, most of the records were added from either a floppy disk copy of our EBSCO invoice for newsletters and journals (mostly uncataloged at the time) or the serial titles from our online catalog. Second, we edited those records, as needed, to include additional information such as routing instruc- tions, retention period, etc., but not historical data. Third, we entered titles from the kardex we had missed from the first step. (Continued on page 2) A publication for academic, firm, corporate & government law librarians.

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