Disappearing Jobs: Staffing Implications for Print Serials Management

Abstract

This article discusses the results of a survey on the staffing implications of reductions in traditional print serials management tasks within academic libraries. The author describes specific tasks that have been eliminated or reduced and the effect on positions and employees. Survey results show that while the majority of positions and employees have remained in the library, less than half of the retrained employees are involved in electronic serials management. The author concludes with a list of tasks for support staff working with electronic serials to assist in staff training and the development of position descriptions that meet the current and future needs of serials management. Serials Review 2010; 36:138-146.