Let us simplify processing work
Abstract
The article comprises two main subjecte:
1. photographing the title page,
2. experiences in the combination of photo- and Hollerith methods.
I.
Between 1957 and 1959 the State Gorky Library used photographing for processing its holdings. Essential features of this method are:
a/ items on the title page are not to be written down, only to
be photographed,
b/ missing but still important items are put down on a complementary slip, and so they are photographed together,
c/ the negative film is the accessions register,
d/ the catalogue cards (size 125x75 mm) are prepared by enlarging.
This method is 30-35 % faster and cheaper than traditional processing methods. Further adventages: authors' pictures, contents, characters in a play etc. may also appear on the catalogue card.
Its disadventage: lack of unifomity of title page a ia reflected on the catalogue cards, too. (E. g. sometimes the author follows the title etc.)
The Gorky Library stopped photographing title pages in 1960, because of having developed a more productive, faster and cheaper method by combining the Hollerith and photo procedures. Essential features of this method are:
1. catalogue entries are to be done only once, directly on the white Hollerith cards. From this Hollerith card are made:
a/ catalogue cards by photographing,
b/ monthly accessions lists,
c/ comulative lists of the year,
d/ accessions regieter and shelf register,
e/ author catalogue for readers in book form,
f/ official catalogue in book form,
g/ reading room catalogues,
h/ bibliographies.
2. Utilization of the single entries is promoted by arranging cards with the help of a Hollerith sorter.
3. The lag in processing can be reduced considerably.
4. The book form catalogue may be used more easily and comfortably by the readers.
5. Other libraries, even individual readers may avail themselves of the mimeographed book form catalogues.
The combination of Hollerith and photo procedures increases productivity by 300-600 depending on the types of the publications.
