Managing Print Serials: Jumping in Mid-Stream as a Newly Appointed Serials Librarian and Carrying Out an Inventory

ABSTRACT Serials librarians are well aware of the fact that print serials require unique methods for proper management. From first check-in to shelving, maintaining, and potential weeding, there are a variety of tasks to engage in along the way to ensure essential management. This paper outlines two combined presentations on print serials management. The first section showcased how a newly appointed serials librarian “discovered” and managed her print collection over the course of a year and highlights her plans for future developments. The second part of the session provided a method for carrying out a multipart approach to a print serials inventory project that includes training, inventory assignments, quality control measures, and progress tracking. The inventory process aimed to enhance the library’s catalog and OCLC local holdings records; check the health of the print collection; and record an accurate total number of bound serial units.