[PADG:1878] Re: barcoding for offsite storage

["cclark" <cclark@xxxxxxxx>]

Emily,
We're placing barcodes on the upper left corner of the front cover. This
was decided by our cooperatively managed storage facility for ease of book
retrieval and inventorying. Since the facility opened not quite a year ago
and we began barcoding onsite collections around the same time, we haven't
identified any problems, yet. It also helps that our onsite collections are
mostly closed stacks.

One alternative we're using includes affixing the barcode on a polyester
strip that is heat-sealed and placed around the front board. I don't
believe any items with the barcodes affixed in this way have been sent to
storage yet.

Another option we're using for some items going to storage is to place them
in acid-free envelopes and affix the barcode to the envelope. However,
we've also placed a duplicate barcode on the item itself in case the
envelope and item are separated.

If you like, I would be happy to send you a copy of our barcode placement
guidelines.
Cynthia Clark
Director of Technical Services
New York Public Library
cclark@xxxxxxxx





                                                                                                           
                      Emily Holmes                                                                         
                      <emily.holmes@nyu        To:       padg@xxxxxxx                                      
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                      12/19/02 09:38 AM                                                                    
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Like so many institutions these days, NYU is in the process of creating a
high density offsite storage facility. One of the many questions that has
come up in this process is how (and where) to barcode the books. So, I'm
wondering what you all have been doing and how it's worked for you. Have
you been placing barcodes on the inside or outside of the books? If on the
outside, where on the book are you placing them? On the front or back? Are
they at all damaging to the outside covers or do they tend to fall off of
highly used volumes (we'd be uniformly barcoding *all* volumes on the
outside, whether they're headed for storage or not)

We're also pretty concerned about many of our little used, fragile 19th
century cloth bindings and the effects of pressure sensitive adhesives,
particularly if they are applied to the front covers. I'm wondering if this
has been a concern for others and how you've managed negotiate this with
other librarians and managers within the library.

Thanks very much for any help you can offer. Happy Holidays to you all!
Emily

Emily Holmes
Assistant Preservation Librarian
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Sq. South
New York, NY 10012-1091
Phone: (212)998-2518
Fax: (212) 995-4583