Take this page with you to complete Activities around the library. Read all information on the appropriate web page before starting the activity. After each activity is finished, return to the web page to complete the Explore section.
Find out about your library's mission or specific goals for providing resources and materials to library users. Is there an official mission statement? What is the content? Is the library's mission posted in a public area, on a web site, or in a policy manual?
Talk to your supervisor, look at the library organizational chart, check the library's web site, or lurk around the library to find which of these services the library offers:
Which of these technical services are part of the operation of your library and who does them?
Collection development
Acquisitions or purchasing
Cataloging
Interlibrary loan
Serials control
Web design and content management
Creating or maintaining blogs, wikis, podcasts, RSS, etc.
Systems and digital services management and communications
Are there other functions that your library considers technical services?
What online or Web systems are used for the technical services? Does your library have an integrated library system (ILS)?
Use your library's catalog to find a few records (catalog entries) for books from the Caldecott Medal Winners 1938- present. You will need to visit the site to get titles, and then look up the titles in your library catalog. If you cannot connect to the ALA Caldecott site, try a subject heading or keyword search in your library catalog for "Caldecott."
Or look for a few books on Ohio history. If all else fails, look for books from your favorite author.
Be sure that at least two of the records you find are non-fiction. Save information from these records for an exercise on the Call Number page.
Navigate the library! Take a map of your library or take a paper and pencil (if you're not lucky enough to have a map!) to the library's non-fiction sections. Depending on the arrangement of your library, classified non-fiction may be located in several areas. On your map indicate the location of each of the DDC Main Classes (listed on this page) in these non-fiction areas:
Then complete your map exercise by adding or marking all the locations for fiction and other materials not classified using the DDC.
On the Catalog page, you looked up a few book records. At least two were non-fiction.
Look at the call numbers for the non-fiction and locate the books on the shelf.
Using the example, see if you can figure out what all the parts of the call number mean. If not, ask for help.
Look at your notes from the Mission page. Does the mission statement or list of goals describe your responsibilities to users?
Does your library have a specific policy concerning patron rights and/or promote the Library Bill of Rights?
Find out if your library supports the American Library Association Code of Ethics and the Intellectual Freedom Statements or the Intellectual Freedom Policy Statement from the Ohio Library Council.
1. Find out what your library's current procedure is regarding the confidentiality of patron records.
2. Ask what changes occurred in your library with the passing of HB389 and the USA PATRIOT Act.
3. Discuss the following examples with your supervisor. What's the correct answer for your library?