The Atlantic County Library System purchases, on average, over 2,000 new books, CDs, DVDs and other items each month. Library staff of the Technical Services section, located in the Mays Landing branch, ensure this is a smooth process. Technical Services orders library items for all branches in our system.
In a recent conversation, staffers Kathy and Elaine discussed the ordering process and how they help put new library materials on the shelves and in patrons' hands as quickly as possible
Q. How do you decide what purchases to make?
A. Our librarians are hands-on with their patrons' reading preferences. They know what kinds of items are popular and are experts at picking titles which will be in demand in the future. Many library items are ordered months in advance of the item's publication date.
Q. Can patrons order new items from you?
A. Patrons request titles at the branch, and the librarian will check our catalog to see if we already own the title. If we do, we can usually get it to a patron's branch in a day or two, as long as no other patron has placed a hold on that title. If we don't own it, we might try to borrow the title from another library.
Shown at left, newly arrived boxes of books, DVDs and CDs sometimes line the hallway of Technical Services waiting to be processed.
Sometimes patrons ask for books just released or scheduled to be released soon. In that case the librarian can check and see if it's on order. If we don't own the item, can't borrow it, and don't have it on order, the library decides if we should order it.
Q. Once a book is ordered, how long does it take until that book makes it to the library shelf?
A. That depends on a few things. It usually takes from approximately 2 weeks to perhaps 4-5 weeks. We continually order library materials every day, from various vendors, depending upon the type of item. All orders are done on the computer. If the items are in stock they are received a few weeks after ordering.
After the books arrive in Technical Services, we still have work to do. Titles have to be cataloged, the books get barcoded, and stamped.
Pictured at right are books processed and almost ready for delivery to a library shelf near you.
Q. What do you enjoy most about your job in the Technical Services section?
A. Between the two of us, we have over 35 years of library service. And working with dedicated staff and library administrators makes the routine fun and interesting.
Thank you, Technical Services section staff.
