How to Shelfread

What is shelfreading?• There will be a printed list available that lists the title, call number,

and barcode for every book in a particular section• By going in order through the shelves and checking the books’

information on the sheet against what is actually on the shelf, we can find:• Call number mistakes• Cataloging errors• Lost or missing books• Misshelved books

How to use the shelfreading list• Find the first call

number on the sheet in the stacks• Check the physical

book against the sheet to see if:• The title• The call number• And the barcode

match

• If they don’t match, make a note on the sheet and bring the book down to a supervisor

Example:

• This book on the shelf matches the call number on the shelfreading sheet• However, it looks like the

title of this volume is “Childhood, Boyhood, Youth” where the sheet reads “Complete Works of County Tolstoy”

Example, continued • If you open the book, you’ll see the barcode (which matches the shelfreading sheet) and the title page• You realize that the actual title is The

Complete Works of Count Tolstoy Vol. 1 which matches the shelfreading sheet• The book is in order and accounted for,

make a check (√) or a dash (-) in the Missing? column

√

If everything looks okay:• Make a check (√) or dash (-) mark in the box marked “Missing?”• Keep going!

If something doesn’t match up:• If the list has a book and you can’t find it on the shelf, mark an “M” in the

“Missing?” column• If the list has a book and the title and barcode match the sheet, but the call

number is a little off…• Make a note on the sheet and bring the book to a supervisor

• Examples include: the book spine lists it as V. 1 but that isn’t on the printed sheet, the book spine says O1 but the printed sheet says 01, etc.

• If there is a book in the correct place on the shelf but it isn’t on the printed list…• Bring it to a supervisor

• If the book in front of you and the information on the printed sheet aren’t matching in some way…• Make a note and bring the book to your supervisor

Example 2

• As you go, you notice that this volume seems to belong to the same set, but isn’t listed on the shelfreading sheet• You notice there’s no barcode on the

front cover or on the inside• Since it isn’t on the sheet to make a

note, just add it to your cart and bring it to your supervisor

What to do with all the books• You may find that sometimes shelfreading yields a lot of these

mystery books• It helps to bring a cart with you to pull the books as you go• When you’re done shelfreading, bring the cart to the shelving room• Make a note that says something like “Shelfreading Errors” and tape it

to the cart• Place the cart over by Lisa’s desk• Put the shelfreading clipboard back on the student table