Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 07:42:43 -0800
From: "Lyn Elizabeth M. Martin" <lynm@SEATTLEU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Mail order catalogs (Lettie Bennett)

Hi, Lettie!  I was Director of a mid-size public library is rural upstate
New York (in a previous life)--in an area where gardening (especially
organic gardening and herb growing) was the norm for almost everyone.  We
maintained a rather extensive group of gardening books nd periodicals, as
you migh imagine.  We also maintained an extensive/comprehenisive seed
and garden supply-related catalog section.  The catalogs were used heavily
all year round.  We did not fully catalog them, but instead did the
following for access:

1.  sorted them by type (veg seeds, flower seeds, herb seeds,
cold-weather variety seeds, hybrid seeds, non-hybrids, garden supplies,
garden buildings, etc.)--then alpha by company name. We kept them in
princeton files right by the gardening books.

2.  a printed list done in the same manner as #1--we did this via simple
wordprocessing. This was freely distributed to library patrons and also
batches sent to the area cooperative extentions offices.

3.  a brief cataloging record in the catalog (this was, of course, in the
days when smaller rural public libraries could not even dream of automated
catalogs).

Most of the work of maintaiing the collection and providing the access was
accomplished via senior volunteers--some of whom were also cooperative
extension master gardeners.

Some libraries in our area also purchased and LENT gardening implements
(rototillers, for example), altho we did not go that far.  These libraries
received grant funds from the state to start such projects.  I still have
many contact in this area, and none of the libraries have persisted in
lending the tools and implements.

In this age of OPACs, if you have a need to keep certain types of
materials (no matter how emphemeral), I would strongly urge OPAC
records--brief ones.

Hope this helps,
Lyn Elizabeth Martin (.sig file below your original message)

> Date: Fri, 07 Nov 1997 17:06:49 -0800
> From: Lettie Bennett <LettieB@ALTURA.COM>
> Subject: Mail order catalogs
>
> Has any library developed a collection of, and fully cataloged, mail
> order catalogs???
>
> Just hoping...
>
> Lettie Bennett
> lettieb@altura.com
>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   LYN ELIZABETH M. MARTIN
Head, Technical Services      Editor-in-Chief
AA Lemieux Library 201        IRSQ: Internet Reference Services Quarterly
Seattle University            Voice:  206-296-6206
Broadway & Madison            Fax:    206-296-2572
900 Broadway                  E-mail: lynm@seattleu.edu
Seattle, WA 98122

  "IT NEEDS A LOT OF EDITING.  I LIKE THAT IN A MANUSCRIPT." --Stein, 1994
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