Dotting, labeling or taping Floating uncataloged Paperback collection

FYI,

Thuy

From: Swalley, Lin - HPL
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2010 5:18 PM
To: HPL - COMS List; HPL - Library Assistants; HPL - NL & Express Managers; HPL - Circ Senior LA's; HPL - J LIST
Subject: Dotting, labeling or taping Floating uncataloged Paperback collection

Hi. I am writing to advise you of a recent decision to stop, immediately, all labeling practices involving tape, dots, sticky labels, etc., presently being used to identify groups of uncataloged paperbacks, such as romances, mysteries, etc

Some locations at HPL continue to use dots, labels or other materials taped to these books to identify the various subgroups. The problem is, uncataloged paperbacks float and, therefore, do NOT remain in your collection. The inevitable result of such practices is books with multiple labels on them, as they float from location to location.

A committee got together and agreed on a striping system using colored marker pens. The attachment describes the committee’s decision, considerations and the new striping system which should be used system-wide, so that customers and staff can find materials wherever they go. An additional benefit is that striping takes less time. An illustration is provided regarding the striping and the use of lettering for those who wish to alphabetize their books etc.

Note: Some locations do not separate the materials, do not mark books in any way—these locations do NOT need to apply the stripes. If they want to separate and mark the books in the future, they need to use the striping system—not dots, labels, etc.

PLEASE DO NOT WASTE TIME doing retroactive striping. Simply apply this system to materials as you receive them from here on.

Thanks for your attention.

Lin Swalley

Coordinator of Materials Selection

Assistant Chief of Technical Services

Houston Public Library

832-393-1479