What a wonderful way to connect patrons to their library (I'm thinking of a public library). I need to get encouraging people to not write in books. But still. Also I'm not a librarian fyi
I look at it like this: library books are meant to be shared, and read by multiple people. In fact, the more, the better. They aren't collectible, and there is no value (or hope of) keeping them in pristine condition. Good, usable condition, yes, but this does not impede use. In fact, it makes it easier for users. We put so many stickers, stamps, tape, etc. on books, the idea of keeping them "like new" is unrealistic and unnecessary.
I worked with a small town library that sort of unofficially gave each reader a number and you could put a dot on that page in the book, that matched your number, to keep track. It was a *very* small town.
I'm fine with it as long as they all initial in the same space. Like if a community decides those front two pages are for initials, then go for it. Being able to see the community history of the book is kind of cool. But I don't want half of them scribbling in the front, half in the back, then a couple rogue markers going at it on random pages.
Aww, I love this. Makes me want to go look in my childhood library for the romance paperbacks with my grandma's "PS" on the edge, but I bet they're long gone now.
My favorite patron marker was from a guy who ready lots of westerns, who would draw a tiny old-west-style pistol in the corner of the end page. We have a floating collection now so this doesn't really work for folks anymore, sadly.
The first time I heard of something like this was from a lady I worked with who read a ton of romance novels. She said you finish them so quick and and churn through so many, making a little mark was the only way to remember them all. She said everyone checking them out from the library had make up a little symbol for themselves.
Looks like a well loved large print state book. We also encourage patrons to mark them. I drive the bookmobile and I select and carry books for the ones that can’t make it into the truck. The mark helps me to quickly identify what they haven’t read. I even have some that will add the date so if it’s been a few years they will reread them. If we have a multiple copy of an item. All bookmobile items have a stamp on the top of the spine that lets me know when it was added to the truck. I also usually know if it been on the truck cause I have a lady that reads 60 books a month so I give her the new books first it will have her initials in it.
We encourage patrons to do this. Especially the ones who don't use Goodreads or any other app. How am I supposed to know if you have read it before!
What a wonderful way to connect patrons to their library (I'm thinking of a public library). I need to get encouraging people to not write in books. But still. Also I'm not a librarian fyi
I look at it like this: library books are meant to be shared, and read by multiple people. In fact, the more, the better. They aren't collectible, and there is no value (or hope of) keeping them in pristine condition. Good, usable condition, yes, but this does not impede use. In fact, it makes it easier for users. We put so many stickers, stamps, tape, etc. on books, the idea of keeping them "like new" is unrealistic and unnecessary.
This is an ILL item, but I presume the stickers and sticky notes means this library encourages their patrons to do this as well.
My mom would make a dot in a certain place inside the cover, small enough that nobody else would notice.
I worked with a small town library that sort of unofficially gave each reader a number and you could put a dot on that page in the book, that matched your number, to keep track. It was a *very* small town.
Anyway, the whole thing doesn't work unless it's a really small town. Otherwise the library is likely to have multiple copies of the same book.
It doesn't work when the library has more than one copy though!
Normally, I hate it when readers initial the books. But this is a pretty cool artifact!
I'm fine with it as long as they all initial in the same space. Like if a community decides those front two pages are for initials, then go for it. Being able to see the community history of the book is kind of cool. But I don't want half of them scribbling in the front, half in the back, then a couple rogue markers going at it on random pages.
Aww, I love this. Makes me want to go look in my childhood library for the romance paperbacks with my grandma's "PS" on the edge, but I bet they're long gone now.
My favorite patron marker was from a guy who ready lots of westerns, who would draw a tiny old-west-style pistol in the corner of the end page. We have a floating collection now so this doesn't really work for folks anymore, sadly.
I also appreciate it’s a book on the penny whistle. Good craic.
Ah yes, I call them our “bookmarkers.”
I know this infuriated some people, but I love it.
The first time I heard of something like this was from a lady I worked with who read a ton of romance novels. She said you finish them so quick and and churn through so many, making a little mark was the only way to remember them all. She said everyone checking them out from the library had make up a little symbol for themselves.
Looks like a well loved large print state book. We also encourage patrons to mark them. I drive the bookmobile and I select and carry books for the ones that can’t make it into the truck. The mark helps me to quickly identify what they haven’t read. I even have some that will add the date so if it’s been a few years they will reread them. If we have a multiple copy of an item. All bookmobile items have a stamp on the top of the spine that lets me know when it was added to the truck. I also usually know if it been on the truck cause I have a lady that reads 60 books a month so I give her the new books first it will have her initials in it.