Page 20 - Cataloging and Classification for Library Technicians, 2nd Edition

2 Cataloging and Classification for Library Technicians

cir cu la tion: Also called access ser vice, this library func tion mainly
consists of check ing in and checking out materials, shelv ing, shelf
reading, and main tenance of shelves. Cir culation duties also include
the main tenance of data bases, such as build ing a users’ data base on
the com puter.

clas si fi ca tion: The num ber or a com bination of letters and num bers
assigned to a work indi cating its sub ject. The pur pose is to have materi-
als of the same sub ject stand side by side on the shelves for easy
brows ing.

inter li brary loan: When users request materials not owned by one
library, the library bor rows them from another library on behalf of the
users. The requested mate rials may be mailed, deliv ered, faxed, or
elec tron i cally trans mit ted to the bor row ing library. Many librar ies
offer free inter library loan service; oth ers charge a fee.
library tech ni cian: A mem ber of the library staff who is in the mid dle
level of the per sonnel hier archy, who super vises cler ical and stu dent
workers, and who is super vised by librar ians.The library technician is
also called the library tech nical assis tant, abbre viated as LTA, or
para-professional, or library sup port staff. Though there is no
national requirement for this classification, the library technician
customarily has an associate degree or cer tificate in the field of
Library Tech nol ogy.

pub lic ser vices: Some times called reader’s ser vices, these are duties
performed in the library’s pub lic area that require some con tact
between library staff and users. Reference ser vices and programming
for chil dren are pub lic ser vices. Cir culation used to be con sidered
public ser vice, but because it now involves the main tenance of data -
bases, it may be grouped with Tech nical Ser vices.
ref er ence: A func tion in which library staff answer inqui ries of the
users. Ref erence per sonnel instruct users on the use of library materi-
als and facilities and assist them in finding needed mate rials or
infor ma tion.

reserve: Reserve has two mean ings. (1) It refers to mate rials kept in
closed stacks, allow ing more users to access such mate rials for a