The Journey of a Book Part II: The Team Behind the Process

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 and adding them to the Library's collection to delivering them to branch locations, this is part two of a series taking you on the Journey of a Book. If you missed the first part, catch up on our blog.   

The Distribution Center, known among Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library staff as "the DC," opened in fall 2019. 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!   

Once selected, ordered, and delivered to the DC, books are then processed through our Cataloging and Processing department, also referred to as CAP.  

"It's very much a team effort," says Sally Dumont, cataloging supervisor. "We all have our own specific jobs that we have to do down the line, but we double check order notes and each other's work just to make sure that things leave the department correctly." 

Books and other materials move from desk to desk, where staff verify essential details like call numbers, spine labels, quantity, vendor, purchase order numbers, and price on the invoice and Sierra, the Library's catalog system.  

Records are checked alongside the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) to verify data like title, author, and call number. Materials are then labeled and tagged to get sorted for branches or the Downtown Main Library.  

"In addition to the new materials that we process on the line, we definitely do a considerable amount of work for the rare materials at the Main Library," says Sally. "We have cataloging staff that work there on a regular basis." 

Sally says she enjoys the wide variety of tasks she's able to work on day to day. "One day I can be cataloging a new vinyl LP, or a book that's in Hungarian, or I can be unpacking or labeling." 

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. Read part one of this series.  

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