Appendix B - Test of JSTOR Pilot Project and Survey of JSTOR holdings in the RLFs

Appendix B

Test of JSTOR Pilot Project and Survey of JSTOR Holdings in the RLFs

JSTOR Test
To examine the feasibility of our proposal and project time and costs involved, ten JSTOR titles were selected to be examined at SRLF. With the generous help of SRLF staff (our thanks to them), each title was visually checked for condition of volumes and holdings. After fifteen minutes of training on how to identify brittle, damaged, and missing issues from volumes, eight SRLF staff and two members of the Task Force each took a title.
Working from a printed item record list the first challenge was to locate the materials – often scattered in several locations in the ranges. The next step was getting to the volumes and checking each one. As the true significance of "double-shelving" sank home to the Task Force members, it was determined that for this aspect of the project, students could be trained and relied upon (agile, energetic, not-afraid-of-heights students).

Findings:

Number of titles surveyed
Number of volumes examined
Hours of staff time
Average time per volume
Number of titles with brittle or damaged items:
Number of brittle volumes:
Number of damaged volumes:

10
630
10
1min.16 sec.
7
95 (15%)
6 (if an item was brittle AND damaged we only counted it as brittle)

The Task Force concluded that an item by item survey is necessary. More time would be taken when examining older original volumes that show some damage or brittleness. When dealing with items that look unused or are reprints a more cursory technique can be used (more details available from Sheryl.Davis@ucr.edu). The main report details how information gathered in the physical survey is used in record keeping
Survey of JSTOR Titles in the RLFs
The NRLF staff have provided the following information on JSTOR titles at the RLFs as of 9/28/99 (special thanks to Shalene Valenzuela). The complete title by title survey is available at http://www.jstor.org/cgi-bin/jstor/listjournal. It does not have the volume count for titles stored at SRLF.
Summary of Findings:
- JSTOR offers a total of 143 titles (as of the date of this report, 9/28/99).
- There are no holdings at either RLF for 52 titles.
- For 37 titles, some (but not all) volumes offered by JSTOR are housed at NRLF only (1,335 volumes, including dups, at NRLF).
- For 13 titles, some (but not all) volumes offered by JSTOR are housed at SRLF only.
- For 17 titles, some (but not all) volumes offered by JSTOR are housed at both RLFs (626 volumes, including dups, at NRLF).
- For 11 titles, all volumes offered by JSTOR are housed at NRLF only (417 volumes at NRLF).
- For 3 titles, all volumes offered by JSTOR are housed at SRLF only.
- For 5 titles, all volumes offered by JSTOR are housed at both RLFs (98 volumes, including dups, at NRLF).
- For 3 titles, NRLF has all volumes offered by JSTOR and SRLF has some (175 volumes, including dups, at NRLF).
- For 1 title, SRLF has all volumes offered by JSTOR and NRLF has some (3 volumes at NRLF).
- For 1 title, SRLF has some or all of the volumes offered by JSTOR (holdings don’t appear on Melvyl®).
- Totals: 74 titles / 2,654 volumes to check at NRLF; 43 titles to check at SRLF.

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