[original post followed by responses.]
Subject: Paperback Collections
From: Katie Boyes
Hello,
I was wondering how other public libraries deal with paperback
collections.
Currrently our paperbacks are all donations and have brief
catalog
records.We are considering changing our collection of
paperbacks...perhaps using only donations and not cataloging them
at
all, or purchasing paperbacks and have our collection be
comprised of
selected purchases and selected donations.
Thanks for any and all ideas.
---
Katie Boyes
Public Serivces Librarian
Flathead County Library
kboyes_at_co.flathead.mt.us
406-758-5713
==1==
From:
"Shedrick T. Pittman-Hassett" <taltos_sp_at_yahoo.com>
We generally only add paperbacks if they complete a set or
if it is a highly-requested item for which pbk is the only
available (in print) format. When we add them
from donations, we import OCLC records and laminate them.
When we order from a vendor, we have them laminated and
import full vendor-provided records.
We interfile them with the rest of the general fiction collection.
We also have a free "paperback exchange" rack for donated paperbacks
that we will not add.
Patrons can "exchange" their own paperbacks for a new one or
borrow one to be returned. It is purely an "honor" system and,
except for adding additional volumes
or removing particularly ratty additions, not maintained by the staff.
Shedrick T. Pittman-Hassett, MLS
Librarian, Access Services
William T. Cozby Public Library
Coppell, TX
==2==
From: June Pinnell-Stephens <june.pinnell.stephens_at_fnsb.lib.ak.us>
We have three levels of handling for our paperbacks:
1. Full cataloging and processing, usually for items we want in our
main collection that are available only in mass market or trade paper
editions. Given the effects of our climate extremes on even regular
binding, paperbacks are a reasonable option.
2. Brief records (author/title) and limited processing (no security
or
laminating), used for a browsing collection selected from vendor
catalogs,
mostly providing extra copies of known authors and titles, plus some
original paperback editions. Our aim is to spend as little in staff
time
and materials as possible - I used to go to the jobber that supplied our
grocery stores and just pick them out of their stacks, but they won't
let me
in the warehouse any more (liability, not me).
3. Paperback exchange, a bring-one, take-one collection with no
library
processing at all, where all of our donated paperbacks end up.
June
June Pinnell-Stephens
Collection Services Manager
Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library
1215 Cowles St.
Fairbanks, AK 99701
907-459-1020
907-459-1024 fax
Received on Sun Aug 08 2004 - 09:07:09 EDT