I have the happy news to report that my library’s shelf prep activities (barcoding, call number labeling, security stripping (? :) , and property stamping have moved to my department, Preservation Services. Yeah! This means, long last, that I will not only be pestering this unit to adhere to practices that focus on permanence and durability and materials that are tested and approved for long-term use in a research library collection … I’ll be responsible for making sure this happens!

My first goal is to entirely rethink the call number labeling workflow. There’s been some recent activity on this issue on PADG, but there is no single best practice options out there. Many rather advanced and forward thinking libraries use the SeLin system … a “‘plastic-like” thin white material” coated on the back with a heat-set adhesive. There are lots of problems with SeLin, namely that while it is a great label, getting it (the outdated software, the dot matrix printer) to interact with newer computers or your ILS is difficult. This string on PADG encapsulates that issue back in 2004 — Yale loved the SeLin labels, but found the printer technology out of date.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m thinking about using our Zebra thermal transfer printer to make call number labels — I think there’s great permanence in a thermal transfer print, particularly to paper but also to polyester stock. In thinking about the label stock, I started wondering about the purpose of foil-back labels. I found this great article (from the Abbey Newsletter … my god, will anyone ever live up to Ellen McCrady’s legacy and produce again anything near as wonderful and contemporary as the Abbey Newsletter?)
that explains the purpose of the foil back label. Essentially, it is two-fold:

  1. The foil helps the label to conform to the rounded shape of a book’s spine.
  2. The foil acts as a barrier between the layer of “cold application pressure sensitive adhesive” and the upper layer, presumably composed of paper. This prevents the adhesive from migrating through and discoloring the paper layer and causing fading of any ink media

I’m curious about the application of a foil-back to a polyester label – I like the permanance of polyester and the potential elimination of a need for a clear label protector. Would it help the label stick to the curved spine of the book? Would it do anything to keep the adhesive from migrating, or is that even an issue with a plastic polyester label?

The Preservation Directorate at the Library of Congress has a whole section of testing requirements related to label stock printed with laser or thermal transfer processes and applied to bound books, plastics (think polypropylene CD cases and film cans), metals, and text pages (see section 700: Label Stock). HOWEVER, they don’t reveal what supplier / material they use for any of these products. I’ve even written nicely to inquire and never received a response.

I have a self-imposed deadline to figure out a new call number label system by August 1, 2008. We’re a SIrsi library (just unrolling the Java client, if you can believe it), so whatever label system we use has to seamlessly work with Sirsi. And by seamlessly I mean I scan in a barcode number and a millisecond later out pops a permanent, durable call number label.

What do others use, both in terms of materials and software, to print call number labels?? Any info and all advice appreciated! I’ll post the first comment further detailing what U.Va. current uses (and its limitations).