Serials Information
Desk
Current Periodical Issues
Microforms
Bound Volumes
Serials Exchange Program
The Serials Unit is responsible for the display and maintenance
of current and bound journals, current newspapers, microfilm/microfiche
collection, and the magazine collection. It also supervises
the maintenance of the microform reader/printers as well
as typewriters for patrons' use. The Unit also maintains
a Serials Information Desk and coordinates a serials exchange
program whereby journals replaced by microforms are distributed
to interested historically black colleges and universities
(HBCUs). The Serials Information Desk:
- Provides general and directional information and assistance
about journals, microforms, and the use of microfilm reader/printers,
and
- Monitors the use of newspapers and journals which are in
popular demand by holding I.D. for items in use.
All journals (current and bound) and microforms are for
in-library use only and do not circulate. Photocopiers are
located in close proximity for easy access. The Serials collection
is reviewed annually by librarians, who are also subject
bibliographers, in collaboration with the faculty to ensure
relevance to the university's teaching and research needs.
Information Desk
Experienced
staff are available to assist you at the information desk
(UGL. Main Level) with:
- Finding microform materials.
- Using microform reader/printers.
- Using typewriters. (Bring your own paper.)
- Obtaining directions.
- Receiving limited reference services. (Full Reference Services
are provided by the Reference Department on the 2nd floor
of Founders Library.)
Current
Periodical Issues
The Undergraduate
Library subscribes to 6,000 current periodcials. They are
arranged alphabetically by title and displayed in
open access stacks. Periodicals and newspapers are regularly
removed from the current display for (a) binding, usually
when the first issue of the later volume appears, or after
about a year; and (b) for the Serials Exchange Program after
they have been replaced by microfilm. However, in the case
of bulky publications, removal for binding may be more frequent.The
turn-around time for journals sent to the bindery is two
to three weeks. On return from the bindery they are shelved
in the bound journal collection on UGL/Sub-Level 2.
Microforms
The Undergraduate Library has 1,300 microfilm titles currently
on subscription. Notable titles in the microform collections
are:
- ABC News (since 1987)
- American Statistics Index (ASI) (since 1974)
- College Catalogs (since 1988/1989)-Current edition on CD-Rom
- Congressional Information Service (CSI)
- ERIC (since 1959)
- Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Collection
- Statistical Research Index (SRI) (Since 1979)
- Tuskegee Institute News Clipping File 1976
- U.N. Documents (1946-1995)
- U.S. Patents
The Magazine
and Business Collections from Information Access Company
contain the full text of selected magazine articles,
for some core titles going back to 1980. They are available
on 16 mm film cartridges housed in Room L48/L49 of the Undergraduate
Library.
A title index to the collections is available in print and
on cartridge next to the collection in Room L48/L49.
The Magazine and Business Collections respectively are shelved
numerically by the number given on each cartridge on carousels
in Room L48/L49.
There are eleven microform reader/printers available for
patron use. Of these nine are fitted with universal carriers
for use with 35mm and 16mm microfilm and microfiche, and
two are fitted with carriers for use with the cartridges
of the Magazine and Business Collections.
Bound Volumes
The Undergraduate
Library has about 170,000 volumes of bound periodicals,
representing about 22,000 active and retrospective
titles. All bound periodicals are located on UGL Sub-Level
2. Our staff will be glad to assist you in finding the journals
you need. Here are a few suggestions to you if you search
on your own:
As a rule of thumb, always search STERLING first. From STERLING
you will find out:
- Whether
the library has the journals you require.
- Where
the journal is housed: Is it in UGL? Business Library?
Social Work
Library? Or somewhere else?
- Is
it in hard copy (paper)? microfilm? or microfiche? or
in more than one format,
e.g., in both paper and
microfilm?
- If
the library does not have the volume/year that you need,
submit an Interlibrary Loan request through
the branch where
the journal is housed.
All bound periodicals are shelved alphabetically
by title. However, in some cases, mainly publications of
learned societies,
there may be variations of title, e.g.,
Journal of the
American Chemical Society
or
American Chemical Society.
Journal.
In
such cases, please look at notes in the "Other Info" field
of the STERLING record to find out under what part of the
title the journal has been shelved, i.e., using our example
above, whether it is shelved under American Chemical ....
or under Journal of the American Chemical...
Use the
shelf guides posted on the stack range panels to retrieve
your journal.
If you
cannot find the journal on the shelves, please ask the
library staff on the main level for assistance.
Serials
Exchange Program
The Serials
Exchange Program started in 1995 when the Howard
University Libraries offered to the libraries of selected
black colleges and institutions (HBCUs) journals and other
serials which were replaced in its collection by microfilm.
Presently, the Serials Management Unit ships requested titles
twice a year (summer semester break, and Christmas recess)
to eight colleges and institutions. The journals, which do
include some incomplete volumes, are free but receiving libraries
are required to pay shipping and handling charges.
As our microfilm collection grows, additional journals are
included in the exchange program and interested HBCUs are
invited to enquire about available titles. Please send your
suggestions to :
Your
feedback is welcome, please write to contact
us.
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