Department

Circulation

Purpose

Shifting is necessary to reorganize the stacks and allow for growth of the collection.

Overview

Shifting is done on an as needed basis to integrate and/or prepare for collection growth. The following will include detailed instructions regarding when to shift, proper shifting technique, and how to record shifting progress.

Required Knowledge/Skills

Library of Congress classification system

Safety Issues/Precautions

Some moderate to heavy lifting, bending, and twisting may be required.

Equipment/Supplies

Book cart, dust rag, wooden step stool, pencil, piece of scrap paper, 6" spacer ("Shifty Jr.")

Circulation Student Assistants: The procedure is to be followed only after a circulation manager has initiated a shifting project. At that time, a binder with shifting focus areas will be provided.

Procedure

1. Log into the Swap Site.

2. Click on "Library Task List"

3. Choose "Shifting" from the resulting drop-down menu.

4. On a piece of scrap paper, write down the LC Call number logged by the last employee to shift.

5. Gather the following: a dust rag, pencil, six-inch (6") cardboard spacer, and the scrap paper with the LC Call number written on it.

6. Go to the proper floor and locate the recorded LC Call number.

7. Based on the plan set forth by the circulation manager, determine the direction in which the books will be shifted.

8. Beginning with the first full row immediately following the LC Call number written on the scrap paper (there will likely be empty rows between them), remove the books from the shelf and place them on a book cart.

a. All books should be permanently shifted off of the topmost row of shelving, to ensure that all books are accessible from the lower shelves, unless otherwise directed by the manager in charge.

9. Dust the emptied shelf.

10. Regarding shifting direction:

a. If shifting from the beginning of the alphabet toward the end of the alphabet (forward), shelf read the books, to ensure that they are in the proper order, before placing them on the new shelf.

b. If shifting from the end of the alphabet toward the beginning of the alphabet (backward), place the books on the new shelf before shelf reading to ensure that the order of the previously shelved books are consecutive to the newly shifted books.

11. Depending on the shifting direction, push the cart to the first empty row.

12. Place the books on the subsequent empty shelf.

a. Straighten books so that their spines line up with the outside edge of the shelf.

13. Each run of shelves should have one (1) shelf left empty to allow for rapid growth in the library collection; be sure this empty shelf is either at the top or in the middle of the fourth shelf from the left, so that things look spatially cohesive.

a. Books on every shelf MUST be secured with a bookend.

b. One (1) single bookend should be stored at the very bottom shelf in case the empty shelf is put to use.

c. All extra bookends sitting at the bottom of the shelving unit should be removed and returned to the 2nd floor Main Circulation Desk.

d. If extra bookends are needed, or shelves need replacing, they are located in the media closet on the first floor.

14. Repeat steps six (8) through thirteen (13) for the appropriate amount of time allotted for the project.

15. Using the cardboard spacer, make sure there is approximately six (6) inches of space between the metal bookend and the right end of the shelf.

16. On the scratch paper, write down the call number of the last book that was moved.

17. Return to the Main Circulation Desk on the 2nd floor.

a. Remember to bring the dust rag, cardboard spacer, unused bookends, and any other necessary materials back to the Main Circulation Desk.

18. Log back into the Swap Site.

19. Return to the "Library Task List"

20. Choose "Shifting" from the resulting drop-down menu.

a. Click “Add New Row”.
b. Click the drop-down menu and change to the appropriate student name.
c. Under “Call Number Ended”, type in the call number of the last book shelved, as it is written on the scrap paper.
d. Enter the correct date of the shift.
e. Record the number of minutes spent shifting under “Time Spent”
f. Save Entry.

21. Return the dust rag and shelving cart to their proper locations.

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