TEXT: Yan Lam / PHOTOGRAPHER: Panda Lei
Do you notice that the magazines on the bookracks of the Macao Public Library are almost shelved at the same speed as the magazines released in the market? The point is, the library has to manage over 800 types of magazines, so how to quickly deliver the magazines to the library so that they are at the readers’ fingertips? This issue, we have invited periodicals librarian Cherie to reveal the secret behind the shelving of periodicals and magazines.
“Every day, the latest magazines arrive at the internal department. Currently, over 230 magazines are processed on each working day on average. After receiving the magazines, we will input the relevant data into the computer system, as well as label them with categories. The drivers or logistic company will deliver the magazines to different library branches based on the lists of magazines generated by the system reports, and our frontline colleagues will immediately shelve the magazines upon receiving them,” Cherie explained. At present, magazines are categorised based on the principle of offering convenience to the citizens. Common and readily understood periodical categories are adopted, such as finance and business management, travel information and photography, thereby not only allowing the library staff to easily identify and shelve the magazines, but also making it more convenient for the readers to look for their interested magazines.
Magazines will expire, so how does the library handle the back issues? Cherie told us that except for a few issues that are added into the library’s collection, most of the remaining back issues will be sold at the charity sale and bookcrossing at the Library Week. The raised fund will be used to purchase books or equipments, which will then be donated to the local charitable organisations.
LIBRARY WONDER WHY
Q: Why is library inventory necessary?
A: Inventory counts allow the actual library materials and its information in the retrieval system to be consistent, enabling the readers to find their favourite books more accurately. In addition, inventory counts also allow us to discover abnormalities of the library materials in a timely manner, such as errors in the status of the library materials or locations of the bookshelves, and to rectify such mistakes subsequently.
Q: How often is an library inventory carried out? How long does it take?
A: Regular library inventories are done based on the actual situation while there is at least a full library inventory every year. The time required by an inventory varies depending on the amount of library materials in each library.
Q: During a library inventory, will the usual loan service for readers be affected? Will the library staff count each and every book?
A: During a library inventory, the daily loan service will not be affected, therefore readers can use different services as usual. Since there is a unique code for each item of library materials, the library staff can complete the inventory by scanning the codes with the relevant tools.
