I'm aware of the current fad of doing away with the vertical files, but
we've never even considered doing away with ours.  It is by far the most
efficient way of storing a good many regularly-received materials, as well
as single items, which simply aren't physically adapted for shelving in
the regular stacks.  The computer revolution hasn't significantly reduced
our patron's use of the vertical file; if they're made aware of something
in the vertical file they can use, they're as glad to get it as they were
before we got the Internet. (Of course, your library's needs and patron
preferences may be completely different!)
--
Werner A. Lind
Assistant Library Director
Easley Library/Bluefield College
3000 College Drive
Bluefield, VA   24605
276-326-4269
http://www.bluefield.edu/library/
<wlind@MAIL.BLUEFIELD.EDU>

Patricia Fazio wrote:

> A few months ago there was a discussion on this list about where people
> file maps.  Some people said that they put them in their pamphlet file or
> vertical file.  Our library recently discontinued our vertical file, but
> we have found over the intervening months that there are items we receive
> that are too small to stand on regular bookshelves.  We are considering
> reopening our vertical file, but with modifications (a nod to documents on
> the Web).  My question is: what are other libraries doing with their
> vertical collections?  Keeping them?  Rewriting their policies?
>
> Any comments appreciated.
>
> Patricia Fazio
> Collection Development Librarian
> Camden County College
> Blackwood, NJ 08012
>
> pfazio@camdencc.edu