Foley Library User Services Training Guide

The Periodicals Compression Project – October 2024

The library is compressing the lower-level Periodicals collection. This means we will be asking for student employee help. Please read these instructions carefully and let us know if you have any questions.  

Shifting the Periodicals & Pulling Red Dot Items at the Same Time

1. Pulling Red Dot Items

• We are back-shifting the periodicals starting at the end with the Z call numbers.  
  • Before shifting an area, you will be pulling any Red Dot periodical sets and put them on carts to be sent up to Scholarly Resources.
    • Red Dot periodicals do not need to be in call number order. Just put them on the carts however they fit best.  
    • Smaller periodicals may sometimes fit three rows deep on a cart’s shelf.  

2. Shifting Items

• At the same time that you are pulling red dot items, you will be shifting the periodicals.
• We will begin with the very last shelf in the Z call numbers and work our way across each stacks range from right to left.  
• In each column we will start putting the books on the shelves beginning with the bottom shelf and working our way up each column. 
• If you are shifting backwards, you will be shifting starting at the bottom of a column and working your way upwards and if you should meet an ultra-tall periodical set, you will be adjusting empty shelves.
• The periodicals will still go on the shelves in volume order.
• Please DO USE the top shelves of all stack ranges when shifting.  
• We are trying to empty the 5-6 stack ranges of shelves closest to ITS, and it is easiest to do if shifting backwards.
• In addition, we want to empty as many of the south side shelves as possible.
• If you come across an ultra-tall periodical set while shifting, you will need to move shelves to accommodate them.   

 

3.  Take Carts Full of Red Dot Items to Scholarly Resources  

• Take the carts up to Scholarly Resources using the public (not freight) elevator.
  • In Scholarly Resources, there will be a particular area that they want you to leave the carts in. Check with a supervisor if you are not sure where to put them.

Some considerations:

1. Both of these series will have a flag with a note to alert you that they need extra space.

• Revista - BR 870 .R58 - this series will need one full empty shelf after it.
• American Literature – PS 1 A6 – this series will need 5 full empty shelves after it.  

 2. We need to compress the periodical sets into the space we have but we do not want to have zero spaces on the shelves. Some journals will be sticking around and need room for additional volumes.  

3. Some shelving ranges may be left empty once we shift periodicals off them because we plan to remove the shelving in those areas.  These are the 5-6 stack ranges nearest to ITS. We will identify any such shelves so that you do not accidentally shift onto them.

4. If you encounter red dots on all boxes except one, assume that you should pull the box that is missing a red dot.

5. Conversely, if you encounter a series of boxes that only has one red dot in the series, assume you should leave that series (in other words, during this phase, we are not breaking up a series).  

 6. If you are ever unsure or have questions, ask a supervisor! We’d rather that you asked us before you pull titles that are meant to be left or leave titles that were meant to be pulled.  

 7. Red Dots: Red dot stickers on the spine of a volume mean that it is part of Phase 1 of the compression project. These are the items you are pulling now.

 8. Black Dots: Black dot Sharpie marks or stickers on the spine of a volume mean that it is part of Phase 2 of the compression project. Disregard the dots and shift these books with the rest of the non-Red-Dot books. Once the library reaches Phase 2 in the compression process there will be additional instructions regarding Black Dot books.

9. If you are unsure about whether or not to pull an item or range of items, check with a supervisor before proceeding!

10. Blue tape squares or other colored tape/markings on the spines of books are not from the compression project and should be ignored.

11. If you find any items from other collections (General Collection, Reference, etc.), bring them to Circulation.  

 12. If you see red flags in any of the periodicals, leave them alone, as they are used by SR students to track their work.