| THIS IS A READ-ONLY ARCHIVE FROM THE SORABJI.COM MESSAGE BOARDS (1995-2016). |
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i've been entering each book into a database using open office, but is there an easy way to search through it or should i transfer the information into a different program? also, the collection is fairly stagnant, i've been thinking of entering the books into the bookcrossing database so people know that they're there... are there other ways to increase circulation? |
Random schedule positive reinforcement does the trick every time... |
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To increase circulation, could you create a display, or put the materials in a more visible position in the library? Do you have to reorganize anything before you enter the collection in Open Office? (I'm taking cataloging this semester and am finding that the concept of Information Organization is extremely intellectually arousing. I also processed two archival collections last semester, but these were paper and artifact collections, and I created a paper finding aid [no digital records].) |
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i'm mostly staying with the categories that others working in the library have previously set. documenting author, title, cover type, publisher, copyright year, isbn, category, page count, replacement cost and current damage levels. each book is marked with a unique number and replaced alphabetically within its category. i plan on registering them in bookcrossing if others at the collective are into the idea. the library is currently cramped and awkward. the whole collective is inside a shed, about the size of a two-car garage. along with a 1000+ volume library, there's a bookstore, a books-for-prisoners program and a freestore that often fills any floorspace within the library. space is at a premium. the books-for-prisoners program is moving inside the house, opening up a ton of space (50% more shelves!) but there's crates of books waiting to be put into the library. more come every week. one of the other volunteers and i were discussing the idea of a benefit for the collective and how i should sing the "unchecked out library book blues". it's all very exciting. maybe i'll go to library school too, after i have four more years of school under my belt. we'll see. for now i'm enjoying the work. |
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What is it composed of- mostly standard books, zines, documents, audio stuff, ? Who uses the collection? Is the library open to the public? Are there other organizations in the area that serve the same purpose as the collective? When will the collection be moved? What kind of shelving will there be in the new space? Are the unique numbers assigned randomly, or is there some meaning to them? |
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Anyone can peruse, but membership (12 hours or $20 per year) is required for checkout. The collective is the only organization that uses the space, some outreach is a good idea. I have friends who do membership and volunteer coordinating at the iprc and freegeek. the numbers i've assigned mark the order they've been plugged into the database. i don't know when the extra shelf space will be cleared, it may not be for some time. it's very similar to the current shelves... i'll have to take a look at it the next time i'm there. as for similar organizations..... there's two bookstores, laughing horse (radical) and in other words (feminist); liberty hall/the iww hall; and portland freeskool. i don't think there's a current organization in portland that fills the same niche. the iprc has a zine library, but the freestore may be unique. i feel like there has to be a better way to economize the space, but with the dilemma of combined bookstore, freestore and library it may be a tad confusing. the library is half-obscured from the main space, blocked by the bookstore shelves. |