The Journey of a Book Part I: This is Where it Begins

Written by Mackenzie Manley, Content Specialist, Downtown Main Library 

Have you ever wondered how a book makes its way to your holds shelf? From selecting materials to adding them to the Library's collection to delivering them to branch locations, this is part one of a series taking you on the Journey of a Book.   

The Distribution Center is known among Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library staff as "the DC.” Opened in fall 2019, the facility is located on the site of former Crosley Field, home to the Cincinnati Reds from 1912-1970.  

While closed to the public, the location is essential to getting materials — books for all ages, CDs, DVDs, and more — into the hands of our customers. That's you!  

Walk into the DC and you'll see that staff operate like a well-oiled machine. There are four departments at the DC: Material Selection and Acquisition, Cataloging and Processing, Sorting and Materials Retrieval, and Shipping and Receiving.  

"We handle all physical materials that come in and out and go between branches," says Cataloging and Processing Manager Michael Christian-Budd. "We like to think of it as the central hub for all services here at the library."

 It all starts with selecting, ordering, receiving, and then processing items to be added to CHPL's collection in a timely manner so that customers can enjoy them. 

"I love working behind the scenes to get all of our customers and all of the staff who serve them the materials they need," says Michael. "It's really cool seeing all of the materials before they hit the branches. We see them often before the release date when they come out." 

The Material Selection and Acquisition team first selects materials for all 41 locations, alongside fielding customer requests for items to be added to the Library's collection. The DC receives daily deliveries of materials, which are staged in date order and processed in a first-in, first-out mentality.  

“We get about one-and-a-half pallets of material per day," says Michael. "That each pallet has about 30 boxes, so it's about 50 boxes a day." 

Once the items are unwrapped and ready to be processed, they go to different stations to be cataloged (more on that in Part Two of this series). Michael estimates that the team processes around 5,000-6,000 copies of books per week.  

"Our team, both in our department and throughout the distribution center, care about their customers and the materials," says Michael, "and they love their work, and we're working every day here with the best team in the Library system." 

The Library Is How Books Find Their Way to You 

Every day, thousands of books, movies, and other materials travel through CHPL's sorting and delivery network on their way to customers across Hamilton County. Before a book reaches your hands, there's an entire team helping it get there. 

Mackenzie Manley is currently reading "Fruit Fly" by Josh Silver.