Notes

Outline

Keeping Ideas Alive: Your Role in Preserving the Library Developed by Tony Amodeo Charles Von der Ahe Library Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, California aamodeo@lmu.edu

What’s the Problem? Our Library has limited SPACE We only have ONE COPY of most materials We CAN’T  GET another copy of most materials (“Out of Print”)

What’s the Problem? The average academic book costs us about $50 to buy, and an additional $40 or more to process Sets can cost as much as $5000+ The more $ we spend replacing and repairing, the less $ there is to acquire more materials

How do materials get damaged? Careless handling by patrons or staff Example:  removing by the “Headcap” Example: picking up by one cover Careless photocopying AND...

JUST SITTING THERE IF Too hot or too moist (deterioration) Infestation of insects or mold  No food/no drinks/liquids policy Harmful “additions” inserted  Self-adhesive markers, acidic paper, thick bookmarks, rubber bands BADLY SHELVED

Why YOUR Habits Matter YOU handle materials more than anyone else! YOU set the example for other students -- and faculty!

“Tricks of the Trade” Your best tool:  YOUR BRAIN  THINK about what you’re doing  Establish good shelving habits NOW -- Pretty soon they will be automatic  ASK QUESTIONS if you don’t know ( a sign of intelligence!)

Bart Simpson  is NOT a good role model!  Haste makes waste  You can be careful and still work quickly  Load carts so they’re not TOP-HEAVY  Don’t turn corners quickly or sharply  Keep the wheels STRAIGHT when you go in or out of the elevators

Why worry about  dropped books? Book bindings ain’t what they used to be Glued, not sewn; paper hinges, not cloth Bindings can split and tear Rebound books have narrow gutters for photocopying

Why worry about unsupported books? Books can fall on someone’s head, even without an earthquake LEANING books develop warped and LoOsE bindings and fall apart Books shelved on their front edges will just fall apart from gravity

The Easy Solution: USE BOOKENDS!

Use Bookends to Support each shelf of books in an UPRIGHT POSITION  IIIIIIIIIIII| Support loose rows of books on bookcarts while transporting or shelving   IIII|   I Keep books from LEANING and tearing themselves apart  II//\\\\///  //_--- |          BUT . . .

... Be sure that you Use the right size bookend: THISDOESNTWORk You don’t KNIFE the book!  NOTLIKETHI|S Cover the whole “tongue” with upright books to weigh it down properly  LIKETHIS|

And speaking of shelved books: Overly TIGHT SHELVING will cause books to be damaged just sitting there to be torn at the spine when patrons try to remove them from the shelf Overly L O O SE SHELVING will cause Warped bindings and loose pages Books to slide and fall off the shelves Books on the floor get damaged! Pick ‘em up!

And a couple more things: OVERSIZE books need oversize bookends Little ones can’t hold the weight Shelve non-oversized books that don’t fit upright SPINE DOWN Like this:   U    not  ^ No more than 4 FLAT books per shelf  Remove  flats in order, not from the bottom!

What if you’re working the desk? You have an important role to play!

Don’t be a STAMPING FOOL! Be careful with the inkpads and stamps Lift the book by its “body”, not its “ear” Don’t be a “discount” clerk : Don’t pile open books one on the other Stamp one book at a time Support the book with the side to be stamped  FLAT on the counter Paperbacks need extra care

REMEMBER: YOU set the example for patrons to follow YOU handle the books more than all others combined -- including the librarians! YOUR bad habits can add up to thousands of dollars of damage, and loss of  IDEAS! YOUR good habits add up to better access for all present and future users

You are IMPORTANT to us! YOU do make a REAL difference! ... and we couldn’t do it without YOU