This was an English assignment where I was supposed to explain a process that was familiar to me, but that I was supposed to assume my reader knew nothing about. Enjoy!
Libraries are a part of modern life. It is a place to gain knowledge, or even just to enjoy some entertainment. Libraries are places of order, but do you ever think about the people who keep it that way? You randomly pull a book off the shelf check it out and bring it back. You drop it in the return book and think nothing else of it. After you leave a librarian must check the books in. Here how she might do it:
(We are of course assuming this library has updated to computers, instead of the old card catalog, which, while having it’s merits, is now old technology.)
First we must look at the quantity of book in the return bin, in this particular case; we have a square hole in the counter. Below is a hollow wooden box of the same size of the hole with a top on springs, the heavier the load of books in the return bin the lower the top. If there are only a couple of items in on top of the bin I advise taking checking them in with not much fuss. Easy.
If, as it is the norm, the return box is quite full of items, I advise going about it in this orderly fashion:
1.) Take everything out of the box. (If there are especially a lot of books and the top is way down you might have to go below the counter to remove the books more easily, especially if you are shorter than the average human.) Check for items that are wedged between the top and the lip of the box. Also when the bin is empty (and if it has wheels) roll it our from under the hole and check around the area for anything that might have fallen off the over-stuffed bin onto the floor. Replace the bin.
2.) The items you have removed should be placed in stacks around the hole on the counter. Divide them into sensible categories: The VHS tapes, DVDs, CDs, Books on Tape, Large Print, Children’s, Paperbacks, Teens, Mystery, Adult Fiction, Non-fiction and Fantasy all go into several assorted piles.
3.) Pick a pile and start with the item on top. (I usually start with the DVDs because they are high-demand.)
4.) Locate the barcode. (A barcode is a series of parallel vertical lines, or bars used yp assign a unique identification code.) Depending on the item and who it belongs to the barcode could be anywhere. On our DVDs the barcode is usually in the right side of the case above the DVD. Other libraries have the barcode on the front, some on the back. CD cases almost always have the barcode on the front.
5.) Place the barcode under the scanner’s red laser light. (A scanner is an input device that puts something into digital form.) Now this is the most difficult of the process, I can’t really tell you how to do it because it’s a “touch” one must learn how to do. You must place it in the exactly right place and pull it out quickly. There can’t be anything too close, even your hand, or the scanner will become confused. If the scanner reads the barcode correctly the name of the item with appear on the screen and the computer will give you a reassuring “beep”.
6.) If, indeed the barcode is on the inside of the case, when you open it you will be able to see if the DVD or CD is there. (You’d be surprised how many people return the case but leave the DVD or CD in the player.) If the DVD/CD isn’t present use your mouse to click where the name of the item appeared on the screen. The name of the patron who had had the item will show in a pop-up window. Write down the name and put aside to call later.
7.) Place the item on put it on the correct cart. In my libraries check-in area there are three carts surrounding the counter. To the left of the hole there is a two sided yellow cart with two shelves in each side. On the inside cover of most items is the month and year which the library purchased it; if it was purchased in the last six months, place in on the top shelf of the left side of the yellow cart. The top right shelf is where all the other books go (no matter if they are children’s, teens, adults etc.) Magazines go on the right and left sides bottom shelves. Adult DVDs, VHS tapes, CDs and Books on tape go on a single sided three shelved black cart behind me. DVDs on the top shelf, VHS tape on the middle and CDs and Books on tape on the bottom. There is a low one sided yellow cart to your right. Children’ DVDs, CDs and Books on tape go there.
8.) At our library we trade books with some neighboring libraries. If one of these borrowed items is returned the computer will tell you who to send it back to. You then put the item in the crate on the shelf below the computer that is there for just such a purpose. It is also possible that an item might be requested by a patron of the library when checked in the computer will tell you. You can then print out the slip of paper and tape it (with removable tape) to the spine of the item and put it on another shelf below the computer in the area marked “To Call”.
It is a possibility that a personnel item may be returned, or even an item from a church or school library that your library is not associated with. If it is a church or school library item return to the library. If it is a personnel item you can try to find the owner by searching the names of people who have just brought items back.
Sound complicated? Well then would you like to know then that the item is not even half-way back to it’s proper spot. From the carts it must go to the shelves in the staff room where it will sit until someone takes it and puts it on a different cart, takes it to the right place in the building and puts it on the right place on the shelf. (All this is has a system unto it’s self.) Often enough the item doesn’t stay there for more than a week, when somebody checks it out, takes it home, utilizes it, and drops it into the return bin. Here we go again.
