[Publib] Where do you put test study guides?

[Linda Cannon]

Ours are pretty much like #1. I think it's the best option. Since your
catalog doesn't allow you to have separate locations (eeek!), I'd put
some signage at the study guide number (which is what I'd go ahead and
use) saying "Please ask at the xxx desk for study guides" or "Study
guides are located across from the xxx desk" or something to that
effect. Good luck.


Linda Cannon, Collection Development Librarian
Joplin Public Library
300 S. Main St.
Joplin, MO  64801
417-623-7953
lcannon at joplinpubliclibrary.org
http://www.joplinpubliclibrary.org 
-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Thorson
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 8:55 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Where do you put test study guides?

We are planning shelving for our new library and are considering a
change for our test study guide collection. Currently they are grouped
together near the Reference Desk, with an item type "study guide" and a
7-day checkout limit. Nothing in the catalog indicates where they are.

We're considering several options:

1. Continue to keep them together near the service desk in the new
building. 
Pros: Easy for us to show to people, might discourage theft if they're
within sight of the desk (I'm not optimistic).
Cons: We don't have the option of giving the collection a separate
location in the catalog, so they would continue to be listed as
"nonfiction" and many people would continue to head off to the stacks
looking for the call number.

2. Group them together in the nonfiction section under a generic "study
guide" number, probably 371.26. 
Pros: All the guides would be together - easier to browse if you're not
sure what you want. Call number would actually get you to the correct
location.
Cons: People browsing in areas other than education would not find the
study guides. Higher theft risk.

3. Group them in their "correct" call number, i.e. ASVAB with military,
nursing with medical, GED with education, etc.
Pros: Browsing might be easier. Dewey purists would be happier.
Cons: "Where are the study guides" becomes a complex question - a hassle
for those who just need a guide in 30 seconds or less and don't
understand why we're different from a bookstore. Again, higher theft
risk.

Other decisions: should we change the check out period to 3 weeks (like
most other things?) Split up the tests so that AP, ACT, SAT and other
high school level tests are on another floor with the young adult
collection? (I will probably push for copies on both floors.)

I have a favorite option. What would you do? What DO you do?

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Cuckow Thorson
Manager, Information Services
Laramie County Library System
2800 Central Ave., Cheyenne WY 82001
www.LCLSonline.org, ethorson at LCLSonline.org
307.634.3561 ext. 141
Mon-Thurs 10 am-9 pm, Fri-Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 1-5 pm