SRE: [Publib] CD Packaging, Display, and Retrieval

[Rebecca Bronson]

Don't know how helpful this will be, but I do the CD selection and have come
to view CDs as consumable. We buy new books when copies of our old favorites
become tired and worn, so I've come to view CDs in the same light. Besides,
we can buy a new copy of a CD for what it would cost us in staff time to
replace the jewel case when it becomes crushed beyond usefulness. For us, in
addition to the new jewel case, we have to reprocess the case with a new
spine label, barcode and branch label. If you are going to devote staff time
to processing, you might as well process a new item.  Those old CDs sell
very well at the booksale, surprisingly enough. Of course we only charge $1,
so that's probably why.

As far as missing liner notes, that's one of my pet peeves with CDs. I would
love to find a practical way to keep people from stealing the liner notes
from our CDs, but haven't had that brainstorm yet. Please share if someone
has the perfect answer. As far as labels and so forth blocking liner notes
and other info, I don't know if there is a solution to that one either,
since CD cases are the size they are. If you made labels small enough to not
block pertinent info, you probably wouldn't be able to read the label.
Again, please let me know if anyone else has a great brainstorm on this one.

Regarding theft, we use security strips from 3M for CDs. The only downside
to this is that they go on the CD and if you have a dual disc, you have to
pick a side to obstruct. That's a drag. Staff vigilance is probably one of
the best deterrents to theft. In our libraries, patrons pass through
security gates and if something hasn't been desensitized, they get a message
to return to the circ desk. Making sure that circ staff follow through on
that message is important, as is having your circ desk close enough to the
exit to have visual control over the exit. That, and making sure that your
security gates are reliable. We have had that problem in the past.

We classify our CDs by fairly broad genre: Pop Artist; Pop Group; Country;
World; Classical; Film/Theater; Jazz/Blues and by author within the genre,
or composer for classical music. We try to catalog our CDs in such a manner
to include subject headings for, say, African music or Russian music, in our
World music genre, so that patrons have subject access that way.

Finally our CDs are kept near the reference desk in a browsable bin. Our CD
collection is one of the heaviest circulating in the system and while there
is some loss to theft, I think it was under 2% the last time I checked, so
that's not too bad.

Rebecca Bronson
Reference Librarian
Handley Regional Library
P.O. Box 1300
Stephens City, VA  22655

540-869-9000 (voice)
540-869-9001 (fax)

www.hrl.lib.state.va.us

  -----Original Message-----
  From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]On Behalf Of Scott Thomas
  Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 1:26 PM
  To: publib at webjunction.org
  Cc: Scott Thomas
  Subject: [Publib] CD Packaging, Display, and Retrieval


         CD's are one of our most popular media, but we are constantly
receiving complaints about damaged jewel cases, library identification
stickers obscuring pertinent information, missing liner notes, and the
inability to find a specific CD. Our collection (just over 12,000) and
circulation are too large to allow a system wherein the CD's themselves are
stored behind the desk and only the packaging is displayed on the floor. I
was wondering how other medium and large public libraries have solved this
problem. I am interested in any system that meets the following criteria:



  1.       Browsing patrons can view liner notes and inserts unimpeded by
labels and other library markings.

  2.       The CD's and accompanying inserts are kept in relatively good
condition.

  3.       Theft is kept to a minimum.

  4.       Patrons looking for a specific CD can find it.

  5.       Retrieval of the CD is largely self-service.



  I know this is a tall order, but any suggestions would be appreciated.



  Thank you!



  Scott E. Thomas

  Head of Information Technologies

  Albright Memorial Library

  Lackawanna County Library System

  500 Vine Street
  Scranton, PA 18509-3298

  (570) 348-3000 x3026

  scott at albright.org
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