Book Finding:Book Finding:The Mih MethodThe Mih Method

ByBy

Matthew J. O’BrienMatthew J. O’Brien

Why do we Search for Why do we Search for books?books?

A patron needs a book A patron needs a book and can’t find it on the and can’t find it on the shelves—it maybe shelves—it maybe mishelved or taken w/o mishelved or taken w/o checking out properlychecking out properly

How can this be How can this be prevented?prevented?

– Proper Check-In/Out of Proper Check-In/Out of ItemsItems

– Properly Shelving books: Properly Shelving books: Both on cart and on shelfBoth on cart and on shelf

The First StepThe First Step

Make sure you are Make sure you are looking for the correct looking for the correct book-get at least a book-get at least a title and authortitle and author

Check the catalogue-is Check the catalogue-is it already checked out it already checked out or listed as Lost or or listed as Lost or Missing?Missing?

Check to see if the Check to see if the book is in Reserves or book is in Reserves or on hold for someone on hold for someone at the Deskat the Desk

And shelves shall be briefly And shelves shall be briefly read…read…

Check the shelf where Check the shelf where the book should bethe book should be

Briefly examine the Briefly examine the area around the bookarea around the book– Look in the area with Look in the area with

similar numbers for the similar numbers for the particular call numberparticular call number

– Ex. If the call number Ex. If the call number begins with BF 4441, begins with BF 4441, you should check the you should check the BF 4440 to BF 4449. At BF 4440 to BF 4449. At the very least check the very least check one shelf below and one one shelf below and one shelf above as well as shelf above as well as the shelf where the the shelf where the book should be. book should be.

A falling out…A falling out…

Check Check behindbehind the books on the shelf the books on the shelf where the book should be—did it fall where the book should be—did it fall down?down?

Check shelves Check shelves belowbelow the shelf where the shelf where the book should be—did someone the book should be—did someone misplace it?misplace it?

The Changing of the The Changing of the Letters…Letters…

Since the book isn’t in Since the book isn’t in the area where it should the area where it should be, the shelver probably be, the shelver probably made a major mistakemade a major mistake

Letter mistakesLetter mistakes– The largest mishelving The largest mishelving

error is made with the error is made with the second letter at the second letter at the beginning of a call beginning of a call number.number.

– If a book is mishelved, it If a book is mishelved, it will probably be in will probably be in another section with the another section with the same beginning letter same beginning letter while following the order while following the order of the rest of the call of the rest of the call number number

The Changing of the The Changing of the Letters…Letters…

Ex. If a call number of Ex. If a call number of a mishelved book is a mishelved book is PN 1871.43 G43, then PN 1871.43 G43, then more than likely it will more than likely it will be in either PQ be in either PQ 1871.43 G43, PR 1871.43 G43, PR 1871.43 G43 or some 1871.43 G43 or some other P-section that other P-section that has the same has the same number, with 1871.43 number, with 1871.43 G43 following itG43 following it

Fun with Numbers…Fun with Numbers… After checking for a After checking for a

letter mistake, check letter mistake, check the numberthe number

If the number has a If the number has a decimal, cut out the decimal, cut out the decimaldecimal

Ex. If the number is Ex. If the number is TR 1193.68 P49, look TR 1193.68 P49, look at TR 1193 P49at TR 1193 P49

Next, try different Next, try different variations using the variations using the decimal numbersdecimal numbers

Ex. If the number is Ex. If the number is TR 1193.68 P49, look TR 1193.68 P49, look up TR 1193.6, TR up TR 1193.6, TR 1193.8, and 1193.861193.8, and 1193.86

After Decimals…After Decimals…

If the number has a one or zero, drop If the number has a one or zero, drop it it

Ex. If the number is PR 1750, check PR Ex. If the number is PR 1750, check PR 750 or PR 175750 or PR 175

Move the decimal even if there is no Move the decimal even if there is no decimaldecimal

Ex. If the number is PR 1764, check in Ex. If the number is PR 1764, check in PR 176.4, PR 176, PR 17.64, and PR 17PR 176.4, PR 176, PR 17.64, and PR 17

Mix Up Letters & NumbersMix Up Letters & Numbers

Certain letters and Certain letters and numbers have a numbers have a greater likelihood to greater likelihood to be confused with be confused with other letters and other letters and numbers because they numbers because they look similar to other look similar to other letters or numbersletters or numbers

Look in places where Look in places where the letters would be the letters would be confusedconfused

Continuation of Previous Continuation of Previous SlideSlide

Ex. B, P, and R often get Ex. B, P, and R often get confused for each confused for each other. C, D, and G get other. C, D, and G get confused. E and F get confused. E and F get confused.confused.

Replace the letters of Replace the letters of the call number with the call number with similar looking letterssimilar looking letters

Ex. If a call number is E Ex. If a call number is E 220, then look in F 220. 220, then look in F 220.

Continuation of the Previous Continuation of the Previous Slide’s ContinuationSlide’s Continuation

The numbers 4 and 9 get The numbers 4 and 9 get confused. 3 and 8 get confused. 3 and 8 get confused.confused.

Replace numbers of the Replace numbers of the call number with similar call number with similar looking numberslooking numbers

Ex. If the call number is Ex. If the call number is PN 458 G73, then check PN 458 G73, then check PN 958 G73, PN 458 G78, PN 958 G73, PN 458 G78, or PN 958 G78or PN 958 G78

Number Merging & Mix and Number Merging & Mix and MatchMatch

If there are two numbers side by side, If there are two numbers side by side, then cut one of themthen cut one of them

Ex. If the call number is PN 5660, look Ex. If the call number is PN 5660, look in PN 560in PN 560

The sequence of a number could have The sequence of a number could have been mistakenbeen mistaken

Ex. If the call number is PN 2567 R96, Ex. If the call number is PN 2567 R96, check PN 2765 R96, PN 5267 R96, etc.check PN 2765 R96, PN 5267 R96, etc.

Less LikelyLess Likely

Combinations of ProblemsCombinations of Problems Ex. If it is a problem with PN Ex. If it is a problem with PN

4551 G49 you might want to 4551 G49 you might want to check, after all other steps check, after all other steps have been exhausted, P 451 have been exhausted, P 451 G94, PG 9551 G94, etc.G94, PG 9551 G94, etc.

Usually there is only one Usually there is only one mistake in shelving unless it mistake in shelving unless it is put on the shelf randomlyis put on the shelf randomly

It’s It’s Almost Almost

Over!Over!

And the least likely problem And the least likely problem is…is…

Mistake in soundMistake in sound If two letters or numbers sound alike, If two letters or numbers sound alike,

there is a slim chance the shelver there is a slim chance the shelver confused a letter or number with a confused a letter or number with a similar sounding letter or numbersimilar sounding letter or number

The numbers four and five are often The numbers four and five are often mistaken. Sometimes similar mistaken. Sometimes similar sounding letters like B, C, D, and G sounding letters like B, C, D, and G are sometimes confused are sometimes confused

““Once more unto the breach Once more unto the breach dear friends”dear friends”

Just because you don’t find a book Just because you don’t find a book does not make you a bad persondoes not make you a bad person

You may have to look several times You may have to look several times before you find the bookbefore you find the book

And remember: You are good And remember: You are good enough, you are smart enough, and enough, you are smart enough, and doggoneit, people like youdoggoneit, people like you

It’sIt’sOverOver