Comments on: Cites & Insights 6:9 available http://walt.lishost.org/2006/06/cites-insights-69-available/ The library voice of the radical middle Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:16:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Elena O'Malley http://walt.lishost.org/2006/06/cites-insights-69-available/#comment-10789 Elena O'Malley Fri, 16 Jun 2006 14:19:17 +0000 http://walt.lishost.org/?p=328#comment-10789 "That’s a good response. Want me to use it in future feedback?" Yes, if you like. I sympathize with the original sentiment, actually. "Convenient for librarians/library staff" tends not to be one of my highest priorities, for good or ill. However, convenient and sensible overlap fairly often, and I've learned to listen to "it would be convenient if..." conversations with that in mind. It might be that a quick analytical study (a clock, a handful of people, and some books) would reveal that most people (in that community) can shelve and browse non-labelled books just as quickly and it's just a handful of grumps like me who get neck strains. It'd be nice to know if we're making hamburgers out of a sacred cow or practical old Bessie. “That’s a good response. Want me to use it in future feedback?”
Yes, if you like.

I sympathize with the original sentiment, actually. “Convenient for librarians/library staff” tends not to be one of my highest priorities, for good or ill. However, convenient and sensible overlap fairly often, and I’ve learned to listen to “it would be convenient if…” conversations with that in mind.

It might be that a quick analytical study (a clock, a handful of people, and some books) would reveal that most people (in that community) can shelve and browse non-labelled books just as quickly and it’s just a handful of grumps like me who get neck strains. It’d be nice to know if we’re making hamburgers out of a sacred cow or practical old Bessie.

]]> By: walt http://walt.lishost.org/2006/06/cites-insights-69-available/#comment-10675 walt Thu, 15 Jun 2006 23:56:11 +0000 http://walt.lishost.org/?p=328#comment-10675 That's a good response. Want me to use it in future feedback? Actually, both responses are good. I'd be delighted to use them, although the next Feedback section won't appear for a couple of months. Just let me know. (I shelved books for some years as well--but it was at UC Berkeley's main library, so it was call numbers all the way.) That’s a good response. Want me to use it in future feedback?

Actually, both responses are good. I’d be delighted to use them, although the next Feedback section won’t appear for a couple of months. Just let me know.

(I shelved books for some years as well–but it was at UC Berkeley’s main library, so it was call numbers all the way.)

]]> By: Elena O'Malley http://walt.lishost.org/2006/06/cites-insights-69-available/#comment-10669 Elena O'Malley Thu, 15 Jun 2006 21:26:27 +0000 http://walt.lishost.org/?p=328#comment-10669 Under the heading "A brief discussion on Dewey Decimal (several posts)" (p.7), you agreed with Michael Casey about author labels in libraries. ("Why is it necessary to add an author-name label to a spine that almost universally has the author’s name?") It might not be a necessity, but, as someone who shelved books as a job for four years, it's a nicety I hope we don't abandon unless we really need to save the time/money of processing them. Label text is at roughly the same height on each book, is the same size font for the most part, and is oriented horizontally. It's faster and easier to read and sort. In bookstores, which don't use such labels, I often end up with a crick in my neck from unconsciously rotating my head to the side as I read the text on the spines. In addition, a small side benefit is that those labels help out visually impaired folks because they are high-contrast in an easy-to-read font, unlike the graphic design work on some book spines. Hope you're having a good summer! Under the heading “A brief discussion on Dewey Decimal (several posts)” (p.7), you agreed with Michael Casey about author labels in libraries. (”Why is it necessary to add an author-name label to a
spine that almost universally has the author’s name?”) It might not be a necessity, but, as someone who shelved books as a job for four years, it’s a nicety I hope we don’t abandon unless we really need to save the time/money of processing them.

Label text is at roughly the same height on each book, is the same size font for the most part, and is oriented horizontally. It’s faster and easier to read and sort. In bookstores, which don’t use such labels, I often end up with a crick in my neck from unconsciously rotating my head to the side as I read the text on the spines.

In addition, a small side benefit is that those labels help out visually impaired folks because they are high-contrast in an easy-to-read font, unlike the graphic design work on some book spines.

Hope you’re having a good summer!

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