We automated the university Library system catalog in 1987. Filing in the
card catalog stopped in 1987 also. The CARD CATALOG was dismantled and used
for scrap paper or something shortly after that. The drawers and cabinets
were sold.
The Frick Fine Arts Library, however, still has its CARD CATALOG because
it is a piece of "built-in" furniture! The drawers are built into the
wall between the Reading and Reference Rooms. Each day I have a deeper
sense of it as a "museum piece" or "installation art!"
We have not filed cards in the card cat in Frick Fine Arts Library since
1987 either. About 5% of the card catalog in our library has still not be
converted! We are just beginning to tackle that task and have begun with
Asian language materials.
In terms of our shelflist. The ULS ceased its shelflist in about 1990.
We continued our shelflist on our own for the following reason. Our
library - all the departmental libraries at Pitt used to do their own
cataloging and processing - used different location codes from the rest of
the ULS (i.e., "i" for intermediate sized books, "o" for folios and
double-folios, "t" for tiny books, "s" for facsimiles of Asian scrolls,
etc.) When the main library began to do our cataloging in 1987 (with the
online catalog), they often forgot our unique location codes or left them
off altogether. Our shelflist saved the day by allowing us to make
corrections!
We have not, however, been able to keep current with our shelflist for
about three years due to decreased staff resources. I am frustrated by
that because we still refer to our shelflist often for details regarding
holdings statements (never were done correctly by the reconn project),
location codes, and other reasons.
I keep our paper order file too, even tough most ULS libraries have done
away with those. I initiate book orders for things that are not received
on one of our approval plans. Every once in a while a faculty member will
inquire about something (s)he ordered and it is not in the online catalog.
I can check the paper order file and prove that I have done my job - it
was sent to the main library to be ordered and the date on which I sent
the order.
Hope this helps! Ray Anne
Ray Anne Lockard
Head, Frick Fine Arts Library
University Library System
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Voice: 412-648-2410
Fax: 412-648-7568
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
A book should be a ball of light in one's hands.
Ezra Pound
On Wed, 10 Apr 2002, Anne Morris wrote:
> Dear Colleagues,
> We at the Toledo Museum of Art are at a crossroads. We have automated the library's catalog and closed the hard copy catalog in May 1999 and, once I can determine what to do with the cards and the furniture, will remove it from the reading room. Since then, however, we have maintained and added to the hard copy of the shelf list.
>
> I would like to know if anyone else is adding to their shelf list and why they feel it is important. We may not be ready to pitch the cards we have, but would like to hear the pros and cons of continuing to add to it.
>
> Thank you in advance to those who respond.
>
>
>
> Anne O. Morris
> Head Librarian
> Toledo Museum of Art
> Box 1013
> Toledo, OH 43697
> tel:(419)255-8000, ext. 7379
> fax:(419)255-5638
> [log in to unmask]
>
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__________________________________________________________________
Mail submissions to [log in to unmask]
Administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc)
to [log in to unmask]
ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance:
http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html
Questions may be addressed to list owner (Kerri Scannell) at: [log in to unmask]
