Ready Reference: Methods That Work For Librarians.

This article provides tips and techniques from librarians in the U.S. to help simplify and improve library tasks and services. To simplify the process of searching all information on a particular item, the Cook Memorial Public Library District in Libertyville, Illinois created Consumer Files: a collection of folders containing magazine articles that rate products their patrons frequently request. The Buttonwood Community Branch Library in Massachusetts insert a slip called Pocket Opinions in their new books to support reading by giving them the readers' ideas. The staff members of the Auburn Public Library in Alabama have been requested to clip newspaper or magazine articles during their personal reading that might be useful reference material. They say it keeps them up-to-date and informed on local, state, and world events that they may be unaware of. In order to assist students searching through periodicals as well as student workers reshelving materials, librarians of the Brevard Community College in Florida attach a small label to the extreme upper left corner of each issue as it is initially processed. On the label, the data of the issue is recorded to easily determine the date of the magazine without taking it out of the box or disturbing the stack.