Drop, Switch, and Find!

Some books I found recently have had their digits switched or shelved as if half of the number was dropped:

• ·         N5630 .R49 1974 shelved as N6530 .R49 1974
• ·         HV4945 .K53 1926 shelved as HV49 .K53 1926

A common rule of thumb when it comes to searching is to be aware that these things happen, so be prepared for it and think about how the numbers can be dropped and switched!

Good luck and happy searching! 

H’s look like N’s

For a long time I had been searching for the book, HD57.7 .L4355 2005 and I couldn’t find it after 6 months so I had it submitted for reorder.  One day while I was searching in the ND’s for another book, I found my long lost missing book.  Fortunately, the library decided to shadow the record and not delete it or order another copy.

Lesson learned: H’s look like N’s especially if the call number is a bit faded…or not.

Happy Searching!

The Miss-shelving Book Hider

Recently, while searching, I have encountered on several occasions books from 2 or 3 rows over crammed at the end of a shelf of books.  Also, on a shelf where the book end was slipping and some of the books leaning over, someone decided to cram a book (again 2 rows off where it should have been) in the little gap between the remaining upright books and the leaning ones. 

I’m unsure of who is doing this other than it is good practice for everyone who searches for missing items to occasionally look at the end of every shelf on every row as well as browse the books you pass by as you walk down the row.  Recently, I have found several miss-shelved items this way and on the rare occasion one that I had been looking for several months.  The most recent subjects this seems to be a reoccurring theme are all the G-GV’s, N’s, PN’s, PR , and PS.

Keep your eyes peeled and look out for books on the end of the shelves as well as the random miss-shelved ones in the middle of the shelf.

Happy Searching! J