Attach the book-card pocket to the page
facing the back cover of the book. As shown in figure
5-9, place the book card in the pocket. Stamp the
pocket with the ship’s property stamp.
Prepare a spine label for each book. Labels
for fiction books should include the letter F and first
three letters of the author’s last name. Science fiction
books are designated SF, westerns W, and mysteries
M to assist patrons in identifying these types of
books. Nonfiction book labels should include the
Dewey decimal subject class number (as given on the
packing slip or catalog cards) and the first three
letters of the author’s last name. Attach the finished
label (at a uniform height) to the lower portion of the
book’s spine or book’s paper cover. As shown in figure
5-10, place labels for books that are to be housed on a
shelves with lips about 2 inches above the bottom of
the book so the label can be easily seen. Occasionally,
due to the texture of a book’s binding, pressure
sensitive spine labels will not adhere. In such cases,
print the spine identification directly on the book’s
spine with a library marking pen designed for this
job.
Protect books by encasing them in plastic
book jackets. The book’s paper cover inside the plastic
jacket adds colorful eye appeal to the library and
preserves cover illustrations and printed information
that will assist the user. When plastic jackets are not
available or can not be used, paste the information
printed on the back and inside flaps of the paper
cover inside the front cover of the book.
Prepare catalog and shelflist cards for each
book. Each fiction book is accompanied by three catalog
cards-two author cards and a title card. On each author
Figure 5-9.—Position of book-card pocket in
book.
Figure 5-10.—Position of class number on spine
of book.
card, the author’s name is printed on the top line. On
the title card, the title is printed on the top line. Each
nonfiction book is accompanied by at least three
cards-two or more author cards and a title card.
For fiction books, no additional card preparation
is needed except separation of cards for filing. Place
one author card aside for the shelflist file. Place the
other author card and title card aside for the card
catalog file.
For nonfiction books, add subject heading
information for the subject card. List the subject
headings at the bottom of the author card by Arabic
number. Type each heading listed in capital letters at
the top of one author card.
When completed, separate the cards for filing:
one author card for the shelflist file; one author card,
the title card, and the subject card for the card
catalog file. See figure 5-11 for a sample set of catalog
cards. Type catalog cards for any books received
without cards or with incorrect cards. Figure 5-12
shows spacing and information to be included on
these locally typed cards.
Books and cards are now ready for use in the
library. The final steps in making them available for
use are shelving the books and filing the cards.
Shelve fiction books alphabetically by the
author’s last name. File nonfiction books in numerical
order by the Dewey decimal subject class number, as
shown in figure 5-13. Referring to the book’s spine
label makes shelving easier. Whenever possible, set
aside one shelf in the library to display new books
received and processed each month. Additionally,
posting a copy of the packing slip in the library or
5-11
FOR SHELVES WITH LIPS FOR SHELVES WITHOUT LIPS
