Wednesday, 26th June 2013

  BUSINESS 

LIBRARY

Today, I went to Business Library (BUSL) with one of the Student Assistants to change the call number of some books. This library is spacious and comfortable with good interior design. It also has a large collection of books, journals, and audio-visual materials. In addition, it provides excellent facilities and services to the students. 

The diagram above shows how the Student Assistant changes the call numbers of the books.

Procedures of Changing Call Number

1. 

1. Print out the new call number labels and Metadata record of books 

                                                           2. Check the ID number of book           

                                                                                                          2.

3. 

3. Double check with title of the book

                                                           

                                                                                                      

                 4. Erase the previous call number and write down the new                       call number on first page of the book.

                                                                                                          4.

5. 

5. Remove the previous call number label on book spine and replace it with new one                                                                

    

                         6. Cover the new call number by using transparent sheet

                                                                                                          6.

7. 

7. Cross out the books in which the call number have been changed

8.Arrange the books back to their respective shelves according to the new call number

                                                                                                          8.

Tuesday, 25th June 2013

Invitation in Microsoft Outlook Calendar

I was invited to attend the BSD monthly meeting for June 2013. All the staff has received invitations via Microsoft Outlook Calendar days before the meeting was held. The meeting was held in BSD Office and it lasted for 2.5 hours.

The agendas for this meeting include updates on authority processing project, NLB’s RDA implementation, staff experience in using RDA, Student Assistants internal working documentation on portfolio, demonstration on solutions for importing record to portfolio from EndNote, BSD Academic Year 2013 Workplan, BSD Work organization chart, e-books for TOC enrichment (MARC field 970) and updates on newly recruited Student Assistants, OCLC Worldshare, and another matters.

Monday, 24th June 2013

On the sixth day of my internship, I was guided to the book collection shelves in Lee Wee Nam Library along with one BSD staff and one Student Assistant. According to them, we were there to change the call number label. The reason why we need to carry out the label alteration is to avoid the duplication of the call number. Basically, an alphabet will be added behind the cutter to make each of the call numbers unique. For example, when there are two books with the same call number of TK5105.15.H236, one of them will be added an alphabet “h” behind of it and becomes TK5105.15.H236h. This makes it a unique call number which only belongs to that particular book. It is not easy to carry out the label changing process as a lot of steps are involved.

Before Changed After Changed



 

As I do not have any experience in doing the label changing, a student assistant from BSD was assigned to partner with me. Since it was my very first time, she demonstrated the label changing process while explaining to me so that I am able to get a better picture. First of all, by referring to a paper which listed out all the books that required label alteration, we were asked to find the book based on its previous call number. This is especially important and thus confirmation step must be done by checking the item ID of the book. The next step would be removing the label off the book spine. To avoid any damage caused, we must do it carefully with full attention. For the case we could not do so, we were advised to cross out the previous label by using pen and paste the new one on top of it. Last but not least, the previous call number written on the book must be erased and changed accordingly. When the whole process is done, we need to arrange the books onto the shelves based on the new call number.





Friday, 21st June 2013

Barcode Pasting Process

BSD barcode label has a dimension of 2.5 x 5.5 cm with the name of the university – “Nanyang Technological University” printed on it. Each barcode is unique and it comprises of 13 numbers. Staff from BSD has created a “paper ruler” in order to make sure that the barcode label is pasted at the correct position. The paper ruler is made from card stock which is a material commonly used for art and craft. It has a dimension of 1 x 7 inch which has cut of 0.5 x 2 inch in the centre.

Procedures of Barcode Pasting

The “paper ruler” is used to facilitate efficient and effective barcode pasting process. Under standard condition, it is always pasted on the last page of book (on the top of the page). If there is no sufficient space for the barcode label on top of the page, it will be pasted at the bottom of the page by following the same measurement. If there is no space on the top and bottom of the page, BSD will try to paste the barcode wherever possible on the last page or on the page before it.

Items Discharging Process

BSD uses the library management system “SirsiDynix Symphony WorkFlows” for maintenance and identification of collections. Upon scanning the barcode, the system is able to locate all the information (metadata) regarding the book, including its location information. After the barcode pasting process, discharging of items  is the fourth step in the entire physical processing for print materials.

 Screen Capture of SirsiDynix Symphony Workflows

Procedures of Items Discharging

By activating the system “SirsiDynix Symphony WorkFlows” and scanning of the barcode number, all the information (metadata) of a particular book can be accessed. The home location is under “CATALOGING” and the current location is also under  “CATALOGING”. This allows the users to know that the book is in the process of being catalogued when they see  “Material being catalogued” in the OPAC. The books are discharged via Workflows. Firstly, go to BSD menu, followed by sub-menu discharging in “common task”, click “discharging” and the current location of the book will need to be changed to “INTRANSIT”. After that, the description of “Being transferred between libraries” will be shown on the screen.

Thursday, 20th June 2013

Physical Processing for Books: Pasting Call Number Label followed by Transparent Sheet at Bibliographic Services Division (BSD)

Call Number Labels, Transparent Sheets, and Paper Guide

The call number labels used in the physical processing are sized 2.5 cm x 3.8 cm per piece and the transparent sheets used are 5.3 cm x 7 cm per piece. In order to standardize the location of the labels on the books, ruler-like paper guides are made by BSD to help with the pasting process. The materials used to make the guides are thick paper and cellophane tape. The dimension of the measuring tapes is 1 x 7 inch with a cut of 0.5 x 2 inch at the centre.

How to do?

First, we have to match the call number from the title page, and place the label 1 inch above the bottom of the book spine as measured using the paper guide. There are some points we need to take note of: make sure that the labels are pasted straight at the book spine; maximize the visibility of the call number label on the book spine even if the books are thin; do not cover any important information found on the book spine; for those books with two book covers, use two labels instead.

Next, we are required to paste a transparent sheet on top of the label for protection purpose. To achieve the purpose, we need to ensure that the transparent sheet is pasted in correct position such that it has fully covered the call number label.

TOUR TO ADML (ART DESIGN AND MEDIA LIBRARY)  

I was brought to visit ADML where I have the opportunity to see various collections of books, audio visual materials and fabrics. Large ADM books are arranged from A to Z and are specially put on a shelf with various sizes. The fabrics are categorised  as valvet, shear, patterns, loose fabrics, upholstery and Leather can be found in a cabinet where the users are able to access. In addition, ADML also provides various facilities and services such as computers, cinema room, printing and photocopy services etc. 

Wednesday, 19th June 2013

3M Tattle-Tape 

BSD uses the 3M Tattle-Tape as a security feature for its books and AV materials. It is a magnetic metallic strip embedded in a strip of thick and clear double-sided adhesive. A piece of security strip is affixed firmly between the sheets of book. If a user takes the book and attempts to leave the library premises without borrowing it, an alarm will sound at the gates near the library exit. To prevent this from happening, users would need to borrow the materials using the self-check kiosk first. The self-check kiosk would desensitize the security strip in the book or AV when the user checks out the item. When the book is returned, it is re-sensitized again.

How to use the 3M Tattle-Tape?

         Open a page of the book from the back (about 4-5 pages away from the last page), carefully paste the strip between two pages and press down firmly to secure the strip.

 

Tuesday, 18th June 2013

HSS Library

On the second day of my internship, I was given a library tour of the HSS Library. HSS library provides a lot of resources for subjects in the humanities and social sciences. This include resources for Psychology, History, Politics, Economics, Language and Communication Skills, Philosophy, and English. I also learnt about the different services and facilities provided at HSS Library, for example, red-spot books, e-payment kiosk, printers, scanners, photo copying machines and TV.

How to use the collections at HSS library?

Users are able to borrow open-shelf books for about a month using the self-service checkout machine. There is a collection known as “Red-Spot Books” which users can only borrow and read for 2 hours.  If users exceed this 2 hour time limit, they must pay a fine of $0.50 per hour.

Monday, 17th June 2013

I have seen the UL and DUL of NTU Library. I learnt much about the library and its location. I was introduced to BSD and was given the power point slides. I learnt the main functions of BSD, the various kinds of library materials, delivery route for library materials hard cover binding of Chinese paperback books and preservation boxes for Chinese rare books. I have learnt more about OCLC, and now understand the function of WorldCat as an international database for various libraries to share MARC records.

The NTU Library is a member of OCLC and hence is able to do copy and original cataloguing in WorldCat. OCLC uses Connexion (Window based Client Version) as a cataloguing utility via subscription to SILAS (Singapore Integrated Library Automation Services). BSD uses macros in OCLC Connexion.