Please Don't Shelve the Books

It may come as a surprise, but sometimes I actually do get away from the perch and flutter around other parts of the library.  Lately, I've been fluttering around the teen section doing some shelf reading.  In plain English, shelf reading is checking to make sure that all the books are in the correct order.  With the passage of time, books tend to wander with the help of patrons who look at books and then return them to the wrong places.

We here at the library truly appreciate our well-meaning patrons who want to be helpful and not trouble us with re-shelving materials that they decide not to get.  Although we are grateful for the gesture, it actually makes more work for us.  First, we don't know that the materials have been misplaced, and second, since we don't know they're misplaced, we can't return them to their proper spots.

There are places in the library where patrons can leave items that need to be re-shelved, and the library staff is more than happy to put those items in their rightful spots.  Librarians may be sticklers about organization but with good reason.  When patrons come to us looking for a book and the catalog tells us the book is on the shelf, it's disappointing to patrons and frustrating to us when the book isn't where it should be.  We don't like not being able to provide something for our patrons, especially when we should have that item available.

So the next time you're in the library and you decide not to check out some materials, please give them to me or any of my colleagues at the perch.  We really won't slap you on the wrist or put a black mark on your library account.  All we want is to put the materials back in their home spots so they can be found when needed.

With thanks for your understanding and cooperation from the perch.