A Library Manager's Guide to the Physical Processing of Nonprint Materials

A unique contribution to library management, this book provides practical advice on making wise decisions about the physical processing of nonprint materials, such as videotapes, computer disks, three-dimensional artifacts, and graphic materials. By drawing on the expertise of librarians around the country, the authors have created an analytical and practical guide for making processing decisions and for carrying out the physical processing of nonprint items. Diverse formats of nonprint materials are common in libraries today, but they present library managers and catalogers with many questions and dilemmas as how best to integrate them into the overall library collection. This professional reference provides practical advice on making wise decisions about the physical processing of nonprint materials such as videotapes, computer disks, three-dimensional artifacts, and graphic materials. The volume sets forth a methodology for informed decision making, presents general options for physical processing that can be applied to any type of nonprint material, and offers practical examples of how to process individual media formats. While the book is broad enough to give general guidance that can be applied to any library and circumstance, it also details particular processing practices for the readers convenience.