I received about 14 responses to my queries about bindery prep and card files.
As one would expect, there are many ways that bindery is handled. Half
of the responses indicated issues are kept at circ.desk or that public staff
have keys to tech area for retrieval of issues at night or on weekends.

   One does rush binding at the end of the semester for heavy use titles and
places items on book trucks in secured periodicals area with a list by title
and call #. Patron leaves driver's license when issue pulled for use.

  Several use a form for retrieval and send form to bindery staff Monday
for item to be pulled. Patron then gets access to item at Circ. through a
reserve process or at the periodicals desk, or at circ. place HOLD for patron
to be notified when item returns from bindery.

  One leaves a card on the current shelf when issues pulled to refer patron to
circulation desk for retrieval process.

  If materials are not accessible nights and weekends, one person compared that
situation to interlibrary loan for getting materials. Patrons are used to a
brief wait for those items, so bindery issues may not be all that different if
considered in this way.

  One stated that items were totally unavailable once charged to bindery and
patron must place HOLD at circ. desk. or use interlib. loan.

    Regarding card files: almost everyone still has some kind of card file
for bindery instructions, problem titles, or prepares a list of titles being
shipped and leaves that list at Circ. or Periodicals or Reference where service
points are. One uses WordPerfect to create a monthly "at bindery" list; another
created a separate journal database to track bindery using Filemaker Pro.

  Also one idea was to have binder insert security strips as part of their
service (we would supply strips) and thus save time when shipment returns.

 Please note Margaret Robinson Arnold's project to compile a list of
bindery folks. She's at UNC Charlotte and her email is ali00mer@unccvm.uncc.edu

 Thanks again to all who responded. I definitely will be able to review our
procedures and incorporate parts of several suggestions.  -- Connie Foster