GEN: merging libraries

[diane holzheimer <holzheimer@RCN.COM>]

Dear LM-Net Colleagues:

My school and another K-6 school in our town are merging, into a new K-5 =
building next year. Our move will be a two part one: K-4 from both =
schools into one old building in Sept 02, with grades 5-6 (plus other =
sixth grades from other schools) in the other old school. Then all K-5s =
move to the new school a year from now. The new school will have about =
500 students. I guess the other media specialist and I will weed like =
crazy, if possible doing both collections together, this spring. I think =
we can separate the grade 6 materials without a problem, but how did you =
actually handle the merger and move? All or most K-4 books will have to =
come to one old school for the fall semester, (to be traded for the =
sixth grade materials I guess.) I'm not certain what to do with the =
"fifth grade" books that ought to be moved twice with those classes. The =
second move, to the new library, will take place over Christmas vacation =
next year.=20

How did you handle classes and circulation while all of this was going =
on? How long did it actually take? Did you just skip inventory the year =
of the move? What about having students participate by checking out a =
half-dozen books apiece at move time and just return them to the new =
school to cut down on the boxes of books, or will this just make things =
more confusing? Were there barcode/circulation issues? (We use Follett.) =
If anyone has had experience with merging library collections and making =
this type of move we would appreciate your sharing your pointers, =
cautionary tales, tips. Thank you!=20

Diane Holzheimer
Media Specialist
Nathaniel P. Banks School
Waltham, MA 02451
holzheimer@rcn.com

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