When books arrive from Cataloging (BMS), place them on the "NEW BOOKS TO PROCESS" shelf.  When ready to process, retrieve books from that shelf and follow these procedures:

1. Is there a white flag in the book? If so, please set aside for Susan to review the notes from BMS. Once she is done her review, she will put the books back on the New Books to Process shelf where they will be ready for you to process (instructions below).

2. Are there two call number tags? If so, one should be torn by BMS colleagues. That indicates that it is the old call number and BMS staff have reclassified the book and given it a new call number. This is important to note as our call slip will have been placed in the location of the old call number. So, check the new call number tag according to the instructions below and process the book as usual. However, once you shelve the book in its new, proper location, use the old call number tag to find the original call slip used to check the item “out” to BMS. Once you find the call slip, find its corresponding white counterpart and cross it off as reshelved. Then, rip the call slip and recycle it. Please also recycle the old call number tag (which is torn).

3. If you answered “No” to #1 & 2 or you’ve finished following the procedures outlined in #1 & 2, please proceed to process the books as outlined below:

Check the UMBC Library catalog to make sure that the information is correct:

• Go to Advanced Search

• Select “Holding Call Number” from the dropdown under “Search Filters”

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• Type in the call number for the book (excluding the collection name)

• Find the correct result (remember to look at the collection name in the results; there may be several results in different areas [e.g. Stacks or a different campus] or in different collections in Special Collections)

• Ensure that the record for the Special Collections item matches the typed tag with the materials and the book in hand

• *Note: If you can’t find the book by the call number, search another way, e.g. by title, author, etc.

• Alternately, you can start at the Special Collections homepage, scroll down to “Search Our Collections,” and in the second box titled “AOK OneSearch Library Catalog,” click on “Advanced Search”

• This will open the Library catalog where you can search by Special Collections' collection names

• In the top search box, type the book title, then click the arrow next to “Search ALL or choose a collection” where you can select the correct collection title from the dropdown list and hit search (the magnifying glass next to the dropdown list).

• Then

  • Find the correct result (remember to look at the collection name in the results; there may be several results in different areas [e.g. Stacks or a different campus] or in different collections in Special Collections)

  • Ensure that the record for the Special Collections item matches the typed tag with the materials and the book in hand

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Check the book for any inscription, such as the author's signature

•  If it is signed by the author, make sure that there is a note in the catalog record

• Go to the “Item Available” section under “Location Items,” then click on the dropdown arrow to open the notes, and you will see the note that says it is signed. Ex:

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• If it is a numbered edition [ex: #41 of 50 or #219], that information should appear in the same place, using the arrow by Item Available to dropdown the notes

Stamping:

• We use archival ink that we acquire from the Library of Congress (which is located in Room 110 in the office supply cabinet).

• Use the smallest of the three stamps with the circular Library logo on it.

• Choose from one of the few beginning pages of the book, ideally after the title page and on the second page of the first chapter, but it must be a page with only print. In some books, this will be in the very back of the book.

  •  If there are mostly images, please see a supervisor for advice about stamping

  • Please don't stamp artists' books

  • DO NOT stamp on a page with any imagery or large decoration. Again, please see a supervisor if you are unsure where to stamp.

• Test the stamp out on a piece of scrap paper.

• Stamp the book as close to the gutter (see illustration below) as possible, preferably at the bottom of the right page.

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Blot the stamp with a scrap piece of paper before you close the book to ensure the ink is dry and will not smudge the other page.

• If the book is mostly photographs or full bleed images, please see the librarian or chief curator for guidance.

Mylarizing: Covering the dust jacket/book jacket:

• Any book that has a book jacket requires a pH neutral Mylar/Melinex cover.

Materials

• Melinex roll, held in a rectangular cardboard box: usually located in Room 103, sometimes in the back right corner.

• Scissors and bone folder: located in Room 110 in the office supply cabinet
  
  

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   ex: bone tool
  
  
  

Open	The Melinex comes with a pre-creased side; put this creased side closest to you and facing up. Remove the dust jacket from the book Roll out an amount of Melinex that is longer than the unfurled dust jacket by about an inch to 1.5 inches on each side
Open	Set the dust jacket, with the inside facing you, on top of the Mylar. Using the bone tool, gently soften the dust-jacket’s creases—this will make it the Mylarizing process easier.
Open	Insert the bottom edge of the dust jacket into the pre-creased section of the Mylar.
Open	Secure the dust jacket with one hand, and fold the top section of Mylar down and over the dust jacket.
Open	Using the bone tool, crease the top fold you just made, starting in the center and working out to the sides.  Careful not to crease the dust jacket itself!   Look at the sides of the width where the flaps of the book jacket are located; if the Mylar is too long on the sides, trim the excess. Leave about an inch overhang.
Open	Place the book inside its newly covered jacket: set the spine in the center of the covered dust jacket, and carefully place the entire cover onto the book, one side at a time.

Now Shelve the book in its proper location

• Remember to take your time and put the book in the correct collection and correct call number location

• If the book was reclassified and had an old call number tag (ripped), please find the original call slip that was placed in the old call number location and proceed with reshelving procedure.