HIT: Handling a Mountain of Catalogs

[Cathy Rosenstock <CRMERCURY@AOL.COM>]

Dear Colleagues,

A sincere thank you for your advice on what to do with the flood of catalogs=
=20
that arrives each fall.  As several of you have requested a HIT, I have=20
posted below a synthesis of your ideas on managing catalogs. =20

I am much freer about discarding fliers and catalogs. =20


*  only keep the catalogs you have used or are likely to use; throw out last=
=20
year=92s

*  limit the number of catalogs saved to one file cabinet drawer

*  throw out most catalogs; tear off attractive illustrations for a picture=20
file

*  trash catalogs that do not catch your eye or from which you have not=20
ordered before

*  keep all catalogs to verify what teachers request during ordering time

*  try to keep up with catalogs as they come in; 10 minutes a day; 20 minute=
s=20
a week

*  spend a couple of hours in the beginning fo the school year going through=
=20
file drawers, discarding old issues

*  date and catagorize catalogs when they arrive; makes weeding easier later

*  catagorize into books, instructional supplies, and computer/av/furniture

*  catagorize into AV, supplies, books; catagorize into print and non-print

* handle mail, including catalogs, once.

*  make a list of those catalogs you=92d like to go through again and might=20
want to order from =20

* keep a consideration file on spreadsheet of titles you want to order from=20
with all ordering data typed in.  Go back and check the specific catalog if=20
necessary.

*  rely on reviews to help you choose good titles; order from a jobber

*  have a student aid or parent volunteer sort and label the catalogs with=20
the date and a code for books, supplies, equipment, media

* have one aide who goes through the catalogs.  This is her job alone.

*  have a student aide replace last year=92s copy with a current one and wee=
d=20
duplicates=20

*  use magazine storage boxes to hold catalogs; use princeton files to hold=20
catalogs

*  use a milk carton container to save catalogs that look promising,=20
alphabetize before you start purchasing

*  discard catalogs with typos, or that say, =93limited quantities;=94  favo=
r=20
catalogs that offer processing and shipping included

*  keep a few benchmark items to price against, for example, The Wizard of O=
z=20
is $14.95 at COSCO.  Discard a catalog that charges more.  Other items may=20
also not be a bargain.

*  take catalogs home to reconsider items

*   take 6 catalogs home a night, circle items of interest, write page=20
numbers on outside cover; make a master list of names of marked catalogs

* don=92t  order from non-approved vendors

*  only order based on reviews from library journals (SLJ, LJ, Booklist,=20
Kliaatt, etc);  keep suppliers catalogs from Brodart, Demco, Highsmith; keep=
=20
AV catalogs for reference

*  Why spend time sorting catalogs when there is so much else to do?  Throw=20
away 99%.  Keep 3 or 4 for a month or so.  Borrow when needed.

*  save catalogs of vendors ordered from last year, throw out the rest


Cathy Rosenstock, LMS
Marlborough Middle School
Marlborough, MA  01752

crmercury@aol.com

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