Serials Review Research Articles

Celebrating Twenty Years of a Serials Column

A co-editor of “The Balance Point” column looks back at its twenty-year history, its current function and its future in serving the serials professional and scholarly community. The author examines how the column emerged as an idea by then Serials Review editor Cindy Hepfer in 1988 to be a forum on important serials issues for practitioners who might not otherwise write formally on these topics. The column has continued though the 1990s and 2000s to provide that function, as well as serve as an important place where authors are invited to explore serial issues much in need of a balanced approach. The author shares comments from past “Balance Point” column editors, John Riddick, Mary Beth Clack, Ellen Finnie Duranceau, Karen Cargille, Markel Tumlin, and Kay Johnson on how they regarded the column, the rewards and challenges they faced, and how they see the future of this format in an evolving electronic communication milieu.

Serials Review, a Changing World, You and I

Serials Review, a Changing World, You and I

Index

The editors scan approximately 120 journals in all disciplines for reviews of serial publications. Journals published since Sep 2005 were monitored for this installment of Serials Review Index. Suggestions for journals to be included in future columns are welcome.

Erratum to “SR Visits: Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter_day Saints” [Serials Review 32 (2006) 137_142

Erratum to “SR Visits: Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter_day Saints” [Serials Review 32 (2006) 137_142

Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Family History Library (FHL) of The Church Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is the world's largest genealogical research institution. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the library's extensive collection features U.S. and international historical society periodicals; family history monographs; and over 2.4 million rolls of microfilm that contain municipal government, church, and business records dating back to 1550. Through its family history centers and the FamilySearch.org Web site, the library provides public access to the names and vital statistics of more than a billion people. Serials Review learns about the library's own history, cataloging procedures, and digital projects.

Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Family History Library (FHL) of The Church Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is the world's largest genealogical research institution. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the library's extensive collection features U.S. and international historical society periodicals; family history monographs; and over 2.4 million rolls of microfilm that contain municipal government, church, and business records dating back to 1550. Through its family history centers and the FamilySearch.org Web site, the library provides public access to the names and vital statistics of more than a billion people. Serials Review learns about the library's own history, cataloging procedures, and digital projects.

The Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering and Technology

Opened in 1946, the Linda Hall Library in Kansas City, Missouri, is world renowned for its collections in science, engineering, and technology. Just as well known is the strong user orientation of its dedicated staff. While the library certainly collects all types of materials, including books, patent specifications, engineering standards, maps, and more, a particularly strong emphasis is placed on the collection of current journals. The library, a privately funded public library, is situated on fourteen acres surrounded by the University of Missouri-Kansas City, although there is no affiliation with that institution. Serials Review made a visit on a lovely spring day in June, as the day lilies and other flowers were in full riot.

The Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering and Technology

Opened in 1946, the Linda Hall Library in Kansas City, Missouri, is world renowned for its collections in science, engineering, and technology. Just as well known is the strong user orientation of its dedicated staff. While the library certainly collects all types of materials, including books, patent specifications, engineering standards, maps, and more, a particularly strong emphasis is placed on the collection of current journals. The library, a privately funded public library, is situated on fourteen acres surrounded by the University of Missouri-Kansas City, although there is no affiliation with that institution. Serials Review made a visit on a lovely spring day in June, as the day lilies and other flowers were in full riot.

The Balance Point: Where is the Column? In Search of the “Balance Point”

The “Balance Point” column has been published regularly in Serials Review since 1988. Trying to locate the column in online databases is challenging. In this investigation, the author searches ScienceDirect and Library Literature and Information Science Index/Full Text to see if “Balance Point” columns are indexed by titles, editors, and contributors and then compares to the print version of Serials Review for differences that may influence indexing.

The Skeptical Business Searcher: The Information Adviser's Guide to Evaluating Web Data, Sites and Sources

Linda Heichman reviews The Skeptical Business Searcher, Kitti Canepi reviews Fundamentals of Collection Development and Sarah Sutton reviews Building an Electronic Resources Collection. Serials Review 2005; 31:230–235.

The Balance Point: Where is the Column? In Search of the “Balance Point”

The “Balance Point” column has been published regularly in Serials Review since 1988. Trying to locate the column in online databases is challenging. In this investigation, the author searches ScienceDirect and Library Literature and Information Science Index/Full Text to see if “Balance Point” columns are indexed by titles, editors, and contributors and then compares to the print version of Serials Review for differences that may influence indexing.

SR Visits the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee

Serials Review visits the Frist Library and Archive at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to a huge number of sound recordings and many other library and archival materials, the Frist Library and Archive maintains an invaluable periodical collection. Among its holdings are rare regional magazines from the forties and fifties, foreign publications on country and bluegrass, important trade journals, scholarly publications, and fan club newsletters. The collection covers not just country, but a wide range of popular genres. Serials Review learns about the library's users, structure, and procedures.

SR Visits the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee

Serials Review visits the Frist Library and Archive at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to a huge number of sound recordings and many other library and archival materials, the Frist Library and Archive maintains an invaluable periodical collection. Among its holdings are rare regional magazines from the forties and fifties, foreign publications on country and bluegrass, important trade journals, scholarly publications, and fan club newsletters. The collection covers not just country, but a wide range of popular genres. Serials Review learns about the library's users, structure, and procedures.

Reports of Conferences, Institutes, and Seminars

Reports from the CONSER Summit on Serials in the Digital Environment held March 2004 and a symposium on electronic resource management called “Taming the Electronic Tiger,” held January 2004.The first report describes a very important meeting where nearly seventy members of the serials community met to talk about the bibliographic and metadata needs of electronic serials. Members of Cooperative Program for Serials Cataloging (CONSER) planned the session and issued invitations to a very diverse group of stakeholders who developed a long list of recommendations for the summit steering committee to consider for further action. The second report covers a sold-out symposium on managing electronic resources held prior to the 2004 American Library Association's midwinter conference in sunny San Diego, California. This symposium, with a focus on the state of electronic resource management systems (ERMS), builds upon the one held a year prior in Philadelphia and reported in this column in Serials Review, vol. 30, no. 4.

Peace Corps' Information Collection and Exchange

President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, and a library has served staffers and volunteers since its beginning. In this issue, Serials Review visits the Information Collection and Exchange (ICE) at Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC, and learns about some of the unique things this library does to support its users all over the world.

Peace Corps' Information Collection and Exchange

President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, and a library has served staffers and volunteers since its beginning. In this issue, Serials Review visits the Information Collection and Exchange (ICE) at Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC, and learns about some of the unique things this library does to support its users all over the world.

The United States Book Exchange

Serials Review visits the United States Book Exchange in Cleveland, Ohio. The staff of this nonprofit organization supplies back issues to over 2,000 member libraries in addition to nonmember libraries in the United States and the world. The tour will examine how this exchange is organized and how electronic access to journal literature has changed its emphasis. Serials Review 29:318–320.

The United States Book Exchange

Serials Review visits the United States Book Exchange in Cleveland, Ohio. The staff of this nonprofit organization supplies back issues to over 2,000 member libraries in addition to nonmember libraries in the United States and the world. The tour will examine how this exchange is organized and how electronic access to journal literature has changed its emphasis. Serials Review 29:318–320.

Reflections on the Faxon Company

Connie Foster, editor of Serials Review, opens this issue with reflections about the Faxon Company. She is joined by several contributors who had close ties with the subscription agency either as former employees or as clients. Documenting some of the milestones of the Faxon Company as well as the results of the upheaval in the business community caused by the bankruptcy of divine/RoweCom/Faxon Library Services, the contributors willingly share some experiences with and insights about a former serials subscription agency giant with services that spanned three centuries. Serials Review 2003; 29:265–275.

An Interview with Stanford M. Forrester, Editor and Publisher of bottle rockets

A little haiku zine / from Connecticut / who would have guessed? This installment of “They Might Be Giants” focuses on bottle rockets, a small haiku journal from, that's right, Connecticut. Stanford M. Forrester, publisher and editor of bottle rockets, talked briefly with Michael Brown about poetry, fireworks, and why he does what he does. Serials Review 2003; 29:321–324.