It is so much published about serials automation that it is very difficult for librarians to give an up-to-date information and to cover the immense amount of information about the mysteries of serials automation. However, the routines in a manual series department have proved to be similar in all libraries and are equal to all new developments. Only on this base and with deep knowledge of serials procedures it is possible to develop new techniques, i.e. automated procedures that could be feasible and considered. Serials automation is no more a puzzle as documented by this IATUL meeting. A very wide range of presentations, lectures, and communications will touch on this topic, namely serials automation and/or handling.
E A S Y \u27Essen Automated System\u27 - journal module is not a simple type of serials automated system, i.e., is not only a straight listing of information regarding each periodical .title, neither has the amption to automate clerical procedures involved with the receiving or check-in procedures and claiming.
The aims of serials automation in Essen University Library within the frame of our automated system E A S Y is that it should has a complete bibliographic file with an access to records for all titles held in the library and include detailed description of holdings. It is the basis for the periodical holdingslist and a joint for a cooperation on nationwide scale for the publication of the union list of serials.
In addition to subscription renewals, the binding of actively received serials, i.e. to automate the binding procedures is part of the system.
We have a complete machine readable file for all our periodicals on subscription, gift, exchange, arid seized publication as well as on continuation. The file includes all pertinent bibliographic as well as holdings information. All needed data are entered into the applicable fields, corrections, additons, alterations, or deletion of information included in a record can be done at any time. We have different search keys which can be entered and the desired record is displayed on the terminal screen.
The system produces - when needed - lists of all titles in an particular fund, arranged by entry, call number, or costs, displaying the subscription amounts paid for those titles year by year, etc.
Bibliographic lists produced include main entry, call number, location etc. as long as the information is stored in the serials file.
The Essen tagging scheme generally covers the following information: title, serial number, branch library, location, cost per copy, no. of copies, account no., call number, etc. For management purposes regular reports for each serial fund according to subject include all expenditures made from that fund