A Sticky Issue – Labelling Library Collections Collections Library Issue – Labelling a Sticky Lloyd Jennifer

ollection ontent the book, and magnetic barcodes, which are usually adhered onto the collection item. A detector is placed at all exits and the alarm sounds whenever a magnetic device that has not been The National Library incorporates deactivated passes the detector. the magnetic security device and the barcode into the one label. The barcode is used as the collection management device. Staff scan the barcode when the material arrives at a destination and this tells the Integrated Library where Management System (ILMS) the item is now located. When users request the collection item via the online catalogue, the item is retrieved from the shelves, ‘checked out’ to that person and delivered to the reading room. The collection is controlled by the Library’s catalogue and is The collection is controlled by the Library’s or at the collection catalogued either at the item level (each book) In order to level (a group of material not individually identified). and to protect manage the physical location of collection material, it from theft, the Library uses a number of different methods of including black ink putting identifying marks on collection material, the pages with the ownership stamps, and prior to this, embossing name. Library’s Ink stamps and embossing material and may Ink stamps are also used to identify collection The ink used be used instead of, or in addition to, the embosser. applied to the is permanent (will not shift when wet) and is usually These ink stamps top edge of a book or on a page with no writing. cannot be removed once made, so the appropriate placement of the stamp is important and staff refer to a manual for guidance. Embossing used to be a common way of marking Librarybooks and is still done on occasion by the National Library for selected rare publications. The non-print collections do not have labels or stamps put on them. Accession details are written on the item in pencil so that they can be removed if required and don’t adversely affect the item. Security labels: barcodes Most libraries have some kind of security system that protects their books from theft. These systems include tattle-tags, placed inside The Library’s collections are divided up by type; we have the collections are divided up The Library’s both Australian General Collections (monographs and serials, and Overseas), Maps, Newspapers, Oral History recordings, Books, Music Asian Collections, Pictures, Manuscripts, Rare through a number and Ephemera. The collections are delivered of different reading rooms within the main Library building. where general Most readers come to the Main Reading Room, include Asian collections are delivered. Other reading rooms and Collections, Newspapers, Maps, Pictures, Manuscripts work and rare the Petherick Reading Room, where researchers collections are accessed. FT E ,IBRARYS

TH NUMBER THE CALL OF ROM THE F n

CONTROL NS LABELS IO STOCK CT FOR S E E BACKED LL USED FOIL O US C ARE AND E EIR N TH WHICH TH IO

LABELS G CT N DS ND I LABELS RA A CT DUCT THERMAL OR E LS T E RO YW B "ARCODE collection and as a security device. :EBRA the spine of the is printed on the label which is then applied to book of reasons. The adhesive used on the label is often poor quality, leading to labels falling off and leaving the item unidentified. As it falling off and leaving the item unidentified. leading to labels used on the label is often poor quality, of reasons. The adhesive material staining. The removal of labels from collection bleed through into the paper causing permanent ages, the adhesive may Library results in damage to the item. The National is problematic and often has developed guidelines about where of Australia c the value of the collection item and the information on collection material in order to protect both labels should be placed onto c Several different methods of sticking labels the case for rare books and pamphlets. on the pages. This is particularly to minimize the impact of material have been devised the label. ABST for call numbers and bar codes on libraryThe use of sticky labels of concern to conservation material are a cause staff for a number NT closed to researchers except in special circumstances. Collection items are ordered via the catalogue and delivered to the relevant reading room. The Library has procedures that ensure that most unique and rare items have their accession details written in pencil on the item, however the use of barcodes is widespread in the Australian printed collections. PRO The National Library is not a browsing library – the stacks are reversible techniques when working with collection material. It is easy to accept that a label on a modern book is a necessary librarythe management requirement. The label can be put on cover or binding of a book and will therefore only affect the outer covering of the item. However putting labels on other types of collection items such as a small pamphlet, map or art work, is less easy to accept. the type used by manufacturers is often impossible. The adhesive needs to be strong enough to bind the label to the collection material and not fall off. Replacement of labels is time consuming and expensive. The requirement for labels to stick permanently to collection material, though, contradicts the desire of conservators use to s s All of these labels have different types of adhesive and finding out helps to maintain the control of the collection. The challenge for helps to maintain the control of the collection. conservators is to find ways of applying labels so that the Library’s the collection material does not get damaged. LA on the Library’s There are two main types of sticky labels used collections: I The National Library of Australia currently holds more than 10 these collections million items within its collections and houses collections are used and handled in three buildings. The Library’s extensively by researchers, both within the Library in its reading loans. The use rooms and outside the Library through inter-library collection material of labels and other identifying information on KE barcode, label, adhesive A sticky issue – labelling library collections collections library issue – labelling A sticky Lloyd Jennifer

2010 AICCM BOOK, PAPER AND PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS SYMPOSIUM 40 2010 AICCM BOOK, PAPER AND PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS SYMPOSIUM 41 LS E B A L E D O C AR B

BY

D E US A C Japanese Tissue patch: When the item is a rare book with patch: When the Japanese Tissue to a piece of valuable endpapers the barcode label is adhered the endpaper Japanese tissue which has been pasted onto a barrier with starch paste. The Japanese tissue provides label (see between the item and the adhesive of the barcode Figure 4).

Preservation Services asked to remove a barcode label is often the item or because because it obscures something on the paper, is needed for exhibition and the barcode is felt to be obtrusive to petroleum Barcode labels can be removed by applying the viewer. spirits with a paintbrush to the paper in the area in which the label is adhered. The adhesive layer dissolves, releasing the paper label and leaving the adhesive layer on the collection item. This spirits, now swelled and softened by the petroleum adhesive layer, can be removed from the paper surface. If this process is not conducted carefully the paper can be badly damaged, and even in the best case scenario, the paper surface is often left with surface Figure 4: Barcode label is adhered to a piece of Japanese tissue which is pasted onto the endpaper. These relatively low-cost strategies have been well-supported by collection managers. When new acquisitions are received, special qualities, its rarity and consideration is given to the item’s display potential. A selection of material is identified for this non- standard treatment. From time to time an unusual item requiring a new solution comes along and this is then added to our inventory of creative treatments. DAMAGE Figure 3: Barcode label is adhered to a piece of Archive Text which has been pasted to the last page. 4.

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4"28 28& ' ' LS E 4"28 ' B =601&2 ' A L 7661,&2 ' E 26 *+,-%. ' ' D O 3&45 C ' "53"9& ' AR /-01&2 B ' 3&0$%&9 ' G N I ;2&< *+,-%. ' ' :) () ' ' space for the barcode label to be adhered it may also be put which is then attached to the gutter onto a piece of Archive Text area of the last page with starch paste. The barcode label adhesive doesn’t come into contact with the item at all (see Figure 3) Archive Text tag: When the item is a book that has no vacant Archive Text Mylar® pocket: Where the collection item has no vacant space Mylar® pocket: Where the collection item has more protection to place a barcode label and the item needs pocket and than a Mylar® jacket, it is placed inside a Mylar® In this way the the barcode label is attached to the pocket. sheet material is barcode label doesn’t obscure the text. Single also treated this way (see Figure 2) Mylar® jacket: Some items which have only a few pages or are Mylar® jacket: Some items printed on very thin paper have a Mylar® jacket made for them The jacket is and the barcode label is adhered to the Mylar®. staple holes sewn to the collection item through the original (see Figure 1)

the pocket. 3. !"#$%& !"#$%& the back cover. 2. of applying barcode labels have been developed with the aim of of applying barcode labels the collection item. This usually involves minimising damage to the barcode to an item without actually finding ways of securing paper or binding. These variations to the sticking it directly to the on a case by case basis in consultation procedures are developed and Preservationwith the collection manager Services. 1. procedures for the placement of barcode labels that have been labels that have for the placement of barcode procedures stack collection managers, in consultation with the developed staff and Preservationmanagers, cataloguing Services. These to place the barcode label on the inside of procedures require staff or on the last page of the book if the end the back cover of a book For a small selection of material, paper is particularly decorative. collections, non-standard methods including high priority Australian APPLY as to items as consistently need to be applied Barcode labels that Librarypossible so label and so can easily find the staff at the exits. The Library sets off the detectors that the label has LS

AI T E D completed her Degree in Conservation completed of Cultural

PHY CT A NT BIOGRA Jennifer Lloyd in 1989 and commenced University of Canberra Material at the Australia in the Preservation National Archives of working at the Services to manage the she undertook a project section. In 1997 Block newly refurbished East Archives staff into the relocation of then continued as the Facilities Manager Building in Canberra and two years. In 2001 she moved to the for that building for a further preservation area at the National Library working on of Australia preservation South East Asia region as outreach programs in the became the Manager program. In 2004 she part of the ILFA-PAC for Preservation Services at the National Library in and has worked this position ever since. CO Email: [email protected] Phone : (02) 6262 1223 ' ' 28& ' ' 28& ' B%6< ' 7-%069& 6B ' ' A"&4 28& ' ' "5 ' 28& ' &D-<=,& ' -59 32%"=3 ' -5 ' ' -59 ' =-=&%I ' 7-%069&C <-#5&2"0 ' ' 28& ,-7&,C - ' ' ' 6B 28& 6B ' ' ' 26= ' 4"28 ' H7%&3 7-%069& ' ' 28& - ' ' 28& ' 6B 6B ' ' =-=&%C ' 6B ' N "<-#& ' 28%6$#8 ' IO @&<6A-, G5 38&&2 ' ' ' F) ?) ' ' 28& A"3"7,& ' ' 6B -59 -59 ' ' ' E > ' ' 3"9& NCLUS 0,&-%,+ ' ' abrasion marks (see Figures 5 and 6). Figures marks (see abrasion item itself. For the bulk of the Library’s printed collection, which item itself. For the bulk of the Library’s is used for its information content and research potential, the pragmatic need for call number labels, stock control and security of library of materials necessitates that the standard approach applying labels suffice. adhesive label does not attach to the item itself but rather to a support of Mylar® or paper. As with most conservation activities, there is never sufficient of The sheer quantity time or resources to treat all items equally. published materials received by the National Library every day means that only very to special items will receive this attention ensure that the barcode label is not coming into contact with the Libraries need to permanently label and stamp collection material Libraries need to permanently label and stamp this practice in order to safeguard it from being stolen, however in some may result in the collection material being damaged has been achieved at the National Library A compromise of way. on less important Australia where labels and stamps are placed paper of a book. parts of a collection item, for example the end For high priority or rare collection material preservation staff have developed a number of non invasive methods which ensure the !"#$%&3 628&% ,-7&, CO and causes the barcode label to become embedded in the paper. label to become embedded in the paper. and causes the barcode have dissolved into the paper is usually Removal of barcodes that damage to the collection item (see impossible without causing Figures 7 and 8). !"#$%&3 damage left behind after removal. Conservators at the National Library that as barcode have noticed seems to make the paper transparent labels age, the adhesive

2010 AICCM BOOK, PAPER AND PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS SYMPOSIUM 42