[WEB4LIB] RE: Is the milk in the back? (was Re: Alta

[Janet Kaul]

I can't speak for all libraries, but I know in the public library where I
work, the goal is to satisfy the patron as quickly as can be completely done.
We have a popular books section right up front, as well as new books. Patrons
go through that before they can even reach the reference desks.

And certainly usage rates are tracked. That's how you weed your collection.
And it's also how we determine what the popular books are. Trust me, putting
the milk in the back whould just lead to more questions for reference about
where the milk is, and in these days of automation and reduced staff, no one
wants that to happen. :)

- Janet

> From web4lib at webjunction.org  Wed Apr 21 08:04:27 1999
> Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 07:33:31 -0700 (PDT)
> Originator: web4lib at webjunction.org
> From: Nick Arnett <listbot at mccmedia.com>
> To: Multiple recipients of list <web4lib at webjunction.org>
> Subject: [WEB4LIB] RE: Is the milk in the back? (was Re: Alta
> X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
> X-Comment: Web4Lib Information - http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Web4Lib/
> 
> At 07:20 AM 4/21/99 -0700, Paul Deane wrote:
> >I have found that libraries and book stores usually have science fiction in
> >the back or the far corner of the basement.  Harlan Ellison even wrote a
> >story about it.  Does this qualify as the milk in the back?
> 
> Certainly when I was a teenager, it would have qualified.
> 
> How aggressive are libraries about measuring and comparing the usage rates 
> of resources?
> 
> Nick
>