Well, Ms. P., we have spent the last 2 weeks tirelessly researching this subject. We searched our own archives, as well as contacting former DCL employees Judy Jones and Janet Lomicka. According to the Board of Trustees archives, they purchased a Gaylord charging machine in 1961 for $325.00. The DeWitt Community Library officially opened on April 9, 1962, and in June of that year (29 days after the opening) the Annual Board Report states that 1,166 borrower's cards had been issued: 550 to adults and 616 to juveniles. Different colored cards were placed in each book for stamping the due dates: white for adult, salmon for junior borrowers; patrons were issued cards with corresponding colors, and including a small metal plate bearing the letter "D" for adults and "JD" for juveniles.
According to Ms. Lomicka, a former director of DeWitt Library, "We inserted each borrower's card into the machine along with the book, record, or magazine card that identified it by author, title, etc. The machine would imprint the borrower number onto the item card. This, therefore, gave us a record of the item, the borrower, and the due date." What, you may ask, did we do before the days of DYNIX green screens, when we could easily check the status of a book? We filed cards tirelessly by due date, giving us easy access to information on whether a particular book was checked out and when it was due back. When items were returned, clerks simply retrieved the stamped card and put it back in the item.
Ms. Jones adds that "before the 'date stamper machine' there were pencils with date stamps on the ends." A card would also be placed in the book pocket, stamped with the patron's due date. In addition, a registration book was kept with borrowers' names and unique numbers. Refer to the pictures on this post for copies of early library policies, examples of due date cards, and an example of a patron card.
0 comments:
Post a Comment