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WELCOME TO COLLECTION SERVICES
What does the Collection Services Department do?
The Collection Services Department is made up of personnel that are responsible for the checking in and the re-shelving of all library materials. At the present time we have 2 full-time clerk/shelvers and ten part-time clerk/shelvers. The Collection Services department is responsible for accurately and readily checking in materials and returning them to the shelves in a neat and orderly manner. Order and accuracy while handling the items is of great importance. The Collection Services department have at various times checked in as many as 7000 library items during regular operating hours.
Function of the Collection Services Department---
Skills required---
- Check in library materials on automated system
- Sort and shelve library materials
- Shelf read to maintain shelf order
- Adjust collection as needed to relieve overcrowding
- Assist in changing status of items
- Accurately shelve self serve periodicals
The Collection Services Department maintains the steady flow of the library materials by making sure all items when returned are checked in and returned to the shelves for the next patrons use.
- Clerk/shelvers have the ability to compare names quickly for alphabetizing
- Clerk/shelvers have knowledge of the Dewey Decimal System
- Clerk/shelvers have the ability to accurately sort and shelve quickly and independently
Have you ever wondered what happens to your library books and materials when they are returned to the library?
First your books and other library materials are caught in a laundry basket at the bottom of the drop. It will wait here until a Collection Services Staff member comes and picks it up.
These baskets are then wheeled to a computer console and scanned back into the system very much the same way that they were checked out. At the check in station careful attention is paid to the condition of the item being returned. If a particular item is damaged then it will be sent to the Support Services Department for mending.
If material such as a videos, music CD's, or books on tape are returned missing items then these items will be given to Borrower Services to call the patron back and correct the oversight.
Once all returned items are scanned into the computer they are then put on sorting shelves for return to main shelves in the library. At the sorting shelves the books are sorted out by category. Basically the shelves are numbered 100-200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 for all non-fiction books There are also shelves for the Fiction, Videos, Large Print, Biographies, and Paperbacks.
The items are then sorted in alphabetical and Dewey decimal order for return to the main shelves. They are placed on carts just like the ones shown.
Once the cart has been sorted it is then wheeled out into the library and the book is then replaced on the shelf for another patron to check out.
The Williamsburg Regional Library takes great pride in being able to check in books and have them re-shelved for the patrons for check out within 24 hours.
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