Shelving is one of the most important jobs in the Circulation Department. If a book is not in the stacks the patron cannot check it out. When there are books in the sorting area, shelving is the first task that should be done. It is the only task that a sticky label is not used. It is also a task in which we count the time spent in the stacks, so be sure that you log your start and stop times when shelving.Steps 1-5 should be done while working the desk.
Steps to Shelving
1. Use one of the two-tiered carts in the sorting area to shelve books. Fill the top two shelves with books. If there is just a few more books left, go ahead and put them on your cart as well.
2. Put the books in order by the Library of Congress classification system. Be sure to use a Cart Worksheet as you are making a cart. They can be found in the drawers near Circ 1 and 2.
3. Once the books are in order, discharge them a second time at the desk.
4. Check and make sure the stuffies and other papers have been removed from all of the books.
5. Place the cart in the hallway leading to the sorting area for someone to shelve it.
6. Log the time that you go upstairs. (Again, do the next steps during your shift in the stacks.
7. Insert your designated shelving flags in each of the books. This allows us to double-check your shelving to ensure that you really understand LC shelving. Try to make sure the flag pops out visibly so staff can see it when checking shelving. Remember, it’s a flag, not a bookmark!