Book preservation

One way to help preserve the collection of the Thammasat University Libraries is for each library staff member to set an example for colleagues and patrons. Preventing damage of books is a major part of preservation. Our night book return system, in which books travel down a long conveyor belt to pile up in a container on a lower floor, may send the wrong message to our exchange students, that it is a good idea to pile books up in this way. Instead, we might politely point out when we see that books are not being carefully treated in the library. For example, if an English-speaking student puts a book on the floor and then puts a portable phone on top of it next to an electrical outlet, to recharge the phone. If we see this, we may point out:

It is not respectful to books to put them on the floor.

Students should be able to realize by themselves that putting books on the floor can increase the chances that they will be soiled or otherwise damaged. We should not need to request that they take books off the floor. By simply observing that this is not respectful, English-speaking students should get the idea and figure out something else to put their phones on when recharging them. A similar situation may occur for library especially around mealtimes and late in the evening, when students who have spent long hours studying in the library begin to feel like it is their home. At home, when we are hungry, we try to eat meals. Naturally, in the library, this is discouraged for a number of reasons, including that books may be soiled by food and drinks. If we see students enjoying their takeout meals in cartons inside the library, we may point out to them politely:

There are areas for eating just outside the library entrance.

This is a gentle way of reminding them that there are better places nearby for eating, and there is no need for them to eat inside the library, among all the books and other scholarly materials that they may be using. In general, it is more polite and effective to offer alternatives instead of saying that some activity is bad or forbidden. If we offer a reasonable choice that will not inconvenience the student or take much time, most students will agree to try to eat outside the library. This is one friendly approach to a sensitive issue. We understand that students study for long hours and naturally get hungry. We also understand that it is tempting for them to try to eat as quickly as possible. Yet library staff knows that even if they feel extremely hungry, they would never eat while working at the circulation desk. It is a good lesson for students to learn that in a work space, different behavior is expected than in a living space.

Reshelving books

If we see students trying to reshelve books that they have looked at, we might suggest:

Thanks, but it is not necessary to reshelve books. Just place them on the shelving cart.

Note that the first thing we say to the English-speaking student is to thank them for trying to help. It is always a good idea to thank someone, to recongize that we understand that they were only trying to be helpful, even if what they did was wrong or caused more work for our shelving staff if books are shelved in the wrong place. After we have thanked the English-speaking library visitor, we explain that what they have done is not needed. It would be enough to put the books on the shelving cart after they have looked at them. We should also point to the nearest shelving cart to make this message clear. In most cases this should be enough. If, however, students wants to know why they should not reshelve books, we can have an explanation prepared:

We have expert shelvers who reshelve books to make sure we do not lose anything. It is their job.

By informing English-language readers that we have trained professionals who are responsible for reshelving books, they will understand that even if they mean well and want to help, they are not experts in reshelving and should leave that responsibility to those members of staff who do it with precision and care. If we see books being treated in other ways that are not ideal, there are other ways to say something about it to English-speaking library visitors. For example, if books are piled up on a desk in a way that looks like some of them are being damaged. Only in an extreme case would it be necessary to offer advice, but if we must do so, again it is most helpful if we do so in a friendly way and not seeming to say that certain things are forbidden or against the rules. We might say more in the nature of a hint:

If the large books are on the bottom, then the pile will not fall over and the smaller books will not be crushed.

This type of advice may remind students who need reminding that we are interesting in preserving the good condition of books in the TU Libraries collection. Many other readers after them in future years may appreciate using these books. By drawing the attention of students to the condition of books in a gentle and positive way, they may naturally take more notice in future of how they treat the books in the library, or library books they borrow to read at home.

(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)