Page 119 - DLIS007_LIBRARY AUTOMATION

Library Automation

Notes While the general procedure for selection and procurement of books would be applicable to
non-book materials also, it must be remembered that since the physical attributes, production
and publishing of NBM are different, appropriate modifications should be effected in their
acquisition. Unlike books which can be procured through local vendors, NBM producers distribute
their own material and consequently there is no equivalent to the book shops in the NBM field.
Further, since NBM are fragile, the publishers insist on the library paying for any material
which is damaged during preview. In addition, NBM are not available on approval like books
due to:

their fragile nature; and
perhaps, more important, due to the dishonesty of some librarians who copy the material
and return the original.
Another problem in NBM acquisition is the lack of bibliographic control which makes it difficult
to the librarian to identify NBM available in the production and distribution agencies.
Bibliographic tools for NBM are, perhaps, conspicuous by their absence, or, if they are present,
they are very few in number. In other words, there does not seem to be any coherent bibliographic
system for NBM. These are merely hundreds of separate publishers’ catalogues and lists. Therefore,
it may be crucial for librarians wanting to build a NBM collection to establish contact with other
librarians, to attend exhibitions and visit suppliers. It may also be useful to read the case studies
of libraries in NBM published in the periodical Audio-Visual Librarian.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
10. Microform dates back to the year 1839 when John Benjamin Dancer, an optician and
professional photographer, produced the first …………………….
11. Since …………………… are fragile, the publishers insist on the library paying for any
material which is damaged during preview.

12. …………………… tools for NBM are conspicuous by their absence, or, if they are present,
they are very few in number.

6.5 Records and Registers

The Acquisition Department has to use appropriate records, registers, files, forms and other
stationery at the various stages of its operation and procedures. Necessary forms and stationery
have to be evolved from experience as need arises. This section however, will deal with some of
the basic records and registers.
They are:

Book Selection Card
Budget Allocation Register
Accession Register
Work Diary

Files
Some Observations

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