[PADG:1678] Re: Dust jackets

[Julian Stam <stam@xxxxxx>]

This is an issue that has bothered me for a long time.  

The primary reasons I usually hear are:
1) It is too expensive to provide mylar covers.  
2) Cheaper alternatives usually involve adhesives and 
damage the jackets anyway.  They are also time consuming to 
apply.
3) Without protection dust jackets get lost and damaged.  
4) Finally, and most cited, call numbers and bar-codes are 
either obscured by the jacket or, if you put them on the 
jacket, get lost.

In responding to faculty, I have always focused on the 
differences in mission between general and special 
collections, then discussed the complications that arise in 
trying to keep the jackets in circulating collections.

I have toyed with the idea of clipping out the bottom of 
the spine in order to reveal the call number and retain the 
jacket, (our bar-codes are on the inner back cover so they 
aren't an issue) but haven't acted on that impulse yet. I 
would love to hear if any others have any retention policy 
or ideas for dust jackets.

Julian Stam


On Fri, 03 May 2002 11:41:46 -0400 Beth Picknally Camden 
<bp2f@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I have had a question from a faculty member wanting to know why academic 
> libraries don't keep dust jackets on books.  I can make a good argument 
> about expense of mylar covers, etc.   However, I was wondering--what is the 
> history of this practice?   Is there a preservation argument for removing 
> them?
> 
> 	-Beth
> ***************************************************************************************
> Beth Picknally Camden    	                              Voice:  (434) 924-7791
> Director, Cataloging Services    	                    Fax:  (434) 982-4579
> Alderman Library 		              Internet:  bpcamden@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> P.O. Box 400108 		          http://www.people.virginia.edu/~bp2f
> Charlottesville, VA 22904-4108
> An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. -- Mahatma Gandhi
> ***************************************************************************************
> 

Julian Stam        
__________________________________
Preservation Manager
Boston College, O'Neill Library
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3810
PHONE:617-552-1404   FAX: 552-0599
www.bc.edu\libraries.html