Page 80 - Library Manual

CvSU Library Manual of Operations

m. 13. Photocopying is one of the major causes of damage
to library books. Some materials are difficult to handle
and copy safely. Most importantly, do not press down
on the spine of books while photocopying and take
extra care with large and heavy books. There are some
types of materials which are so fragile they should not
be photocopied at all.

n. If you have to move items than cannot be held
comfortably in hand, use a trolley. Never overload a
trolley, make two trips.

o. Unnecessary metal clips, paper fasteners, pins and
staples should be removed; rust stains and holes will
eventually result if these are left in place. Remove
carefully and, if necessary, replace with smooth, solid
plastic paper clips, white cotton tape ties or an acid-
free folder or pocket. Rubber bands should be removed
and discarded because they curl and tear the edges of
paper and will eventually age and break.

p. Try not to overstuff or under-fill storage boxes –
overstuffing cramps and creases items, under filling
allows sagging and bending. Use fillers made of acid
free materials.

q. Generally books should be supported upright on the
shelf by other books or bookends. Books left leaning
on shelves can cause the book to become distorted and
the binding may break. Large books such as elephant
folios and broadsheets should be stored flat on the
shelf otherwise the weight of the pages can damage the
binding, but do not stack them too high or they will be
difficult to remove.

r. Do not overcrowd the shelves. Books should slide
easily onto shelves without force. Make space if they
do not. Shelves should be deep enough to fully support
the volume and leave a space between the books and
the back of the shelf to allow air circulation.

s. Make sure materials in compact units are not
protruding or likely to fall on the ground, because it
will be crushed.

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