{"id":15072,"date":"2016-10-28T16:51:13","date_gmt":"2016-10-28T16:51:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/librarynews\/?p=15072"},"modified":"2016-10-28T16:51:13","modified_gmt":"2016-10-28T16:51:13","slug":"preparing-paley-library-collections-for-the-new-library","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/librarynews\/2016\/10\/28\/preparing-paley-library-collections-for-the-new-library\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing Paley Library Collections for the New Library"},"content":{"rendered":"

In addition to the construction work visibly underway<\/a> for Temple\u2019s new 21st century library<\/a>, Library staff are hard at work behind the scenes preparing Paley Library\u2019s extensive collection for the move.\u00a0 One aspect of this work includes reviewing the collection to be sure each item is properly barcoded.\u00a0 This project began this Fall and is expected to continue well into next year.<\/p>\n

In the midst of reviewing each item for the presence of a barcode, we are discovering a number of items that lack catalog records.\u00a0 Though these items represent a small percentage of the collection, they still present a significant challenge for the Libraries.\u00a0 We estimate that cataloging all the items likely to be discovered could conservatively take 3 to 4 years of uninterrupted work.\u00a0 Of course, this time-frame would stretch considerably longer due to the necessity of simultaneously maintaining routine cataloging activities.\u00a0 Given that most of the items being discovered are either duplicates of other Temple library holdings or are quite widely held by other libraries with whom Temple has robust lending agreements, it is not clear that the substantial investment of time, personnel, and space required to catalog and house these items is the best use of limited library resources.<\/p>\n

In light of these considerations, the library administrative team has determined that a reasonable course of action is to conduct a review of these un-cataloged items, checking particularly to see 1) if a duplicate, cataloged copy is held by the Libraries, and 2) how widely the item is held by other, non-Temple, libraries.\u00a0 If other cataloged copies of the item are available from a Temple library, we are withdrawing the un-cataloged item.\u00a0 If the item is held by at least 75 other libraries in total and at least 3 Pennsylvania libraries, we are withdrawing the un-cataloged item.\u00a0 If the item is lightly held (defined as fewer than 75 total libraries and fewer than 3 Pennsylvania libraries), it is being kept for cataloging.\u00a0 Items flagged for withdrawal are also being given a final review by Special Collections Research Center staff for consideration as an addition to our special collections.\u00a0 Please note that the numeric holdings criteria being applied are quite conservative compared to research indicating that a much lower number of holdings suffices to safely guarantee the survival of lightly held items.<\/p>\n

This process results in the following outcomes:<\/p>\n