HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 05-30 Arrival of Com Cat brings improvements to country libraries THE REVIEW /K .30
Arrival of Corn Cat
brings improvements
_,
to countylibraries
The days of the card catalog at the conduct a comprehensive, educational E
to,
Maplewood Branch Library system are program to train people how to use the `
numbered. No more will eager library microfilm viewers. Especially when the /
users'fingers go flying through the index card catalog goes in a couple months,and
cards,looking for a certain book title. No they won't be able to rely on it anymore." - _,,
more will librarians be destined to spend Another important aspect of the i . ,,'
many work hours typing cards, filing, microfilm units, is that the librarians '� ,,
replacing and indexing them. won't have to spend so many hours filing i ,
Tuesday the library made Computer- ,tht five separate index cards per new 4 ..�rir a ,
Output-Microfilm catalogs available for book.The Maplewood Branch Library has " .,,IF ft, ,'
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use. This is a microfilm using unit, more than 40,000 books, and receives '
equipped with a viewing screen, and a around 5,000 new ones each year. That t i°
listing of all the books in the Ramsey adds up to a lot of index cards,and a lot of t • , � • � ,
County Public Library system through filing. r
March 1979. OF COURSE,for some of the librarians .t
That means all the books at the who have used card catalogs for many it
>Y
Maplewood,Roseville,Arden Hills,North years, the new catalog may create a ! . 44-,—.4,44t,4„ ! . e .
St. Paul and White Bear Lake branches change in their daily routine. r *~•� ,,
are listed on the microfilm. If the "But they are so easy to use, and the a '�
Maplewood library doesn't have the book different ways a librarian can use them -- " "°`t
in their stacks, a user can read on the when working around the stacks is so �+rnt' ` ,. ."141!
At IP
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microfilm where it is available. Then, helpful," Fitch said. "' ►
through intra-library loan, the user can Everything in the"Com Cat" is filed in ** r
I Olt
have the material the next day. one alphabet,A through Z. All children's � `«
The"Corn Cat,"which is the nickname and adult books and authors,subjects and `" • sr
for the microfilm units, will be updated titles are filed together. ow
quarterly. New books will be kept on a Also,some books will be listed only by *► ' it
microfiche listing, available for users. author and title, temporarily,until a new
"WE STILL have the card catalog, but quarterly edition comes out and the '"
they are so out of date,they aren't of too subject listings will be added. Also, the �► "r � w
much use," librarian Ann Fitch said. "Corn Cat" does not include records,
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"But a lot of people still like to use them. 8mm films or paperbacks. "" xr
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But if you are looking for a special title,it "Eventually these other materials will
is a lot quicker to use the `Com Cat'." be listed on the "Corn Cat," Fitch said. "° s •
Library users response to the microfilm Funds for the "Corn Cat" units came *,
unit are varied. "Kids come in and use it through the Metropolitan Library Service
right away,they like to push the button to agency and the Ramsey County Library THE TRADITIONAL CARD FILE is what Bev Scalze,969 Beam Ave.,Little Canada,
speed the machine up,"Fitch said. "A lot System. This is the first step in com- used when she visited the Maplewood Branch Library last week.The new"Corn Cat"
of adults go right to the card catalog. I puterizing the Ramsey County Library sits on top of the card catalogs, and the librarians urge using them. They contain
think it would be a good idea for us to borrowing system, Fitch said. more updated material,are easier to use, and also show what libraries have what
books.