Cataloging: Day 1

Today's observations:
Well, the first day is in the books. I was slightly nervous about starting the actual work, but of course everyone was completely lovely and I was able to fall into a groove quickly. I had previously investigated the online catalog software that all the Kemper-Newton Public Library System (KNRLS) branches use, and my one remaining question was, Where do they get the records? I had tried to ask Rita, who usually does the cataloging but has been roped into working at another branch because of personnel shortages, last week, but it was one of those situations that is hard to explain. (Obviously, since I'm doing a rather poor job explaining it right now.) All it took was five minutes with Brenda, the business manager, and I was off to the races. It's pretty silly that I couldn't figure out how to access the records before she showed me, but in my defense I will point out that: 1) the AGent Verso handbooks are not very clear, and 2) it was just way too easy. The system that we use at the Huntington requires two different sets of software and is in no way intuitive, so I was looking for a clever trick, when all I needed was a straight-forward search. There are still a lot of books to catalog, but I feel far more confident about my ability to complete the project after today.


Titles cataloged today: 54

Titles cataloged total: 54

Audio entertainment during the drive: Led Zepplin I; Dark Side of the Moon

New Southern discovery: If a server offers you peas, they may not be referring to the green ones. You may end up with black-eyed peas. They are still delicious, but this may come as a surprise.

Something I miss from California: Road signs with street names/numbers AT the intersection. There might be signs in the hundred yards leading up to major intersections, but when you reach the actual light or stop sign, there aren't necessarily any signs of which road is which. I'm looking at you, Philadelphia.


Edit: God bless this short-term memory for saving me from dwelling on setbacks. I will mention that we had some troubles in the afternoon getting the records to load into the catalog, but after two phone calls with a very nice man from Auto-Graphics, the computer decided to behave itself. Seriously, it wasn't working after the first conversation, so we called back, he did a screen share and when he watched me do THE EXACT SAME THING it worked. I told him that I hope it continues to work, because it might be inconvenient to stay on the phone with him every day for the next three weeks.