Page 211 - DLIS003_LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

Library Administration and Management

Notes Maintenance of Book Tags: Book tags carry call number of books fixed at the bottom of
books or on their spines. This helps the arrangement of books on the shelf. These book
tags get damaged or worn out after repeated use and they have to be re-fixed if they get
soiled. In many libraries, book tags have been replaced by tooling, a process by which call
numbers of books could be written on the spines or at the bottom of the covers. This will
reduce the work of the library.

Tools: The maintenance section needs to be provided with the following tools:
Books ends or book supporters: At least two book supporters are required for each plank
of the shelves to ensure that the books are standing upright.
Book lifts and trollies: In a multi-storeyed library building book lifts are needed to carry
books from one floor to another. Similarly book trollies are needed to transfer books
from one end to the other end of each floor.

Shelving tables: One table for sorting out books for shelving should be made available on
each floor of stacks.
Stools: A number of stools for short persons to browse books kept on top shelves and also
for easy replacement of the books.
Ladders: Two step or three step ladders for reaching upper shelves for shelving, cleaning
and dusting.

Task State the type of tools required for a stack room with the function of each.

11.4.3 Stock Verification

Stock verification implies the physical check-up of the articles on record. This is a common
practice in all organisations whether private companies or government departments. Stricly
speaking it is undertaken to ascertain that all the books acquired by the library are accounted
for. In a narrow sense it means physical check-up but in a broader sense it would mean to have
an assessment of the collection of documents.

Stock verification is a controversial subject among librarians due to the conservative attitude of
authorities for holding librarian responsible for losses due to theft while no facility is provided
or provision is made to develop security arrangement.
Need for Stock Verification: Despite its disadvantages and disfavour by librarians, some kind of
accounting for the stock is generally felt to be necessary. Some are of the opinion that an annual
inventory is essential to identify the administrative defects and slackness and to take necessary
action to rectify these tendencies. Stock verification need not be viewed as an unnecessary evil.
There are many advantages of stock taking. However the desirability or otherwise of stock
verification depends on the size of the library collection. In large libraries, it is difficult to have
a thorough regular physical checking. Such libraries may carryout sample verification of various
sections in phases to ascertain the stock position.

Methods: Following is a brief description of the prevalent methods of stock taking:
Stock Verification by Accession Numbers: The accession numbers of the books from the
shelves are read by one person and another person checks and tick marks the corresponding
accession number in the register. When all the books in the library and out in circulation
are checked in this manner, the unmarked accession numbers give us a list of lost books.

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