Collection Developments @ Sno-Isle

by Nancy Messenger

The Explore collection will undergo a slight change in appearance and in the management of circulation, beginning in July.  The barcode that is pictured is the new one that will be used for this collection.

In July Technical Services staff will give each Explore book its own unique barcode.  The barcode will be linked to a bibliographic record in the catalog.  In CARL.Solution, Explore books will show at the end of the list of branch holdings and will be assigned to the branch ~XPLOR.  Tilde branches do not show in CARLWeb so these items will be invisible to the public.

The change will enable us to track circulation for each title and to link a specific item to a patron’s record.  When the patron checks out an Explore book, the title will appear on the charge receipt.  Items that are not returned will go into a lost status and the patron’s record will be blocked until the item is returned.  Items assigned to the branch ~XPLOR will float but will not pick up holds. 

The reason for the change is to provide us with inventory control over the collection. The current method of checking Explore books out on generic barcodes does not allow us to link the item to a patron or to track on the collection.  We know the collection has been popular with patrons and we want to continue to be able to account for the titles that are purchased.

With this change, branch staff will need to return all Explore books in CARL.Solution.  It will not be necessary to change the branch to SRV1 when Explore books are sent to the Service Center.  All shipments of new Explore titles will be sent to the Service Center, rather than drop shipped to branches from the vendor.  When new Explore books arrive in the branch, they will be ready to shelve; it will not be necessary to return these materials before making them available to the public.

If you have questions about this change, please contact Tracy LeRoy or Nancy Messenger.

This article orginally appeared in the June 26, 2007 Tech News .

by Nancy Messenger

The Camano Island Library will open for the public on June 29, providing Sno-Isle with the opportunity to try a new approach to library service and collections. Rather than looking like a traditional library, Camano will offer patrons a browsing collection that focuses on popular new titles (including an Explore collection), subjects of perennial interest to patrons, and formats that are in demand at all of our libraries. Library services will be slightly different, as well.

How does Camano differ from other Sno-Isle libraries?

• The Camano collection will appear in the catalog but will not pick up holds.
• Camano will not be on router and the collection will not be shared. This practice will help ensure that the browsing collection at Camano is kept intact at that branch. (All copies of high demand titles will be in addition to the number of copies the system purchases to meet our holds-to-copy ratio.)
• Camano Library materials will have the same loan periods as those in other libraries, including the short loan period for POP materials, but Camano materials will not renew. Camano materials check out once, with no renewal. POP materials will have a POP location (that is, short loan). All other items, except for a few reference books, will have a location of BROWSE. Camano is the only branch that will use the BROWSE location.
• Staff in other branches should not refer their patrons to Camano to pick up popular materials that show a shelf status because these materials may not be on the shelf. Also, staff should not call Camano and ask staff to check the shelves for titles their patrons want.
• Staff in other branches should not check out Camano materials that are returned to a branch other than Camano. After returning a Camano item place it in a delivery box for return to Camano. The Camano library is on the North delivery route.

New shelving purchased for the library will enable staff to display the collection in much the same way as a bookstore. Materials will be available in multiple copies and will be shelved face-out. For the first few weeks the library is open, temporary shelving will be in place. This means that part of the collection will not be displayed but will show in the catalog as being on the shelf.

The Camano Library model may serve as a direction for Sno-Isle in managing services and collections at other libraries. Staff involved in planning and implementing this new library are to be commended for taking a risk in providing public service.

If you have questions, please contact Barbara Hart at 360-651-7007 or Valerie Stevens at 360-651-7015.

This article originally appeared in the June 26, 2007 Tech News.