We do write the call number inside the book, and for a couple of reasons that I can think of off the top of my head.

1. We don't always use (GASP!!) the provided LC number because it fits in our collection differently or we'd like it placed somewhere else.
2. It helps for labeling - to make sure that the typed label from the computer matches what the call number for the book is. Since I usually label away from a computer, it helps to make sure that actually is what the label is supposed to say. Checks and balances, if you will.
3. I know you mentioned the computer searching, but it is nice just to have that information inside the book in case your system crashes, computers are down, etc.

If I think of anything else I'll let you know!

We do this for the following reasons:

We are a tiny library, and don't process a large volume of books. Our spine labels are still typed (by work study students) rather than printed. The students use the written information to type labels, since they don't have a computer in front of them while processing books.

We use Dewey, and the CIP info obviously does not provide Cutter numbers or prefixes, plus we occasionally change numbers to fit better with our collection.

In libraries that have books in languages other than English (and especially in languages not written in roman alphabets), having the call no. written inside the book (in case the spine label/barcode is missing) helps library staff who can't read the language to quickly locate the record so the book can be sent to the appropriate location or dept. for repair.

The use I could see would be for when the spine label is lost. It would save having to look up the book. I have seen books returned with the spine label missing through wear, sun damage, or from our book eating book drop. Book jackets also go missing from time to time. With that being said, all the automated libraries I have worked for, for quite a while have given up on this practice. I only did this at the one un-automated library I worked for. It was really useful there.

One other use for this method comes from the dreaded 'Disaster Recovery.' As we have discovered some of the labels and book covers disintergrate, fall off, or otherwise become illegible if soaked with water (or gods forbid, fuel). A written location code can help id an otherwise unidentifiable book. Of course, location is everything, so if the page it is written on is damaged then we have to use something else to make sure we are removing that particular item from records.

There's an old story that addresses this kind of situation.

Kimberly was a young bride who wanted to make a special meal for her husband's birthday. They had been to dinner at her parents' home and he always raved about her mother's pot roast, so she called her mother for the recipe. The first step stopped her: "Cut off both ends of the roast." Kimberly asked her mother, "Why?" Mom said, "It's the way Grandma taught me to make it. I'll ask her."

Grandma's response was, "Well, that's how my mother always made it, and it was always delicious! But now you've got me wondering; I'll ask her."

Grandma called Great Grandma. "You know these young people are always wanting to know 'Why?' so I'm asking for Kimberly who wants to make your always-delicious pot roast - Why do you cut the ends of the roast?"

"So it will fit in my pan!"

My library does follow this practice. I have found that it is the easiest way to find the call number if the spine label comes off. Yes, this information is also available on the OPAC, but then then a computer is needed.... If the information is in the book, the library aide can quickly create another label!

Yes we write in pencil the call number so the students can check to be sure the computer matches what the cataloger has written in the book. Sometimes what is on the Bib record does not match the written notation, in which case the book goes back to the cataloger to clarify-it is a quality control. As mentioned before, we sometimes use a different call number than is on the verso.

Several of the older books in our collection have the call numbers written down in them. It is helpful if the spine label or barcode is missing. It is also helpful if the cover of the book has been removed by a patron trying to sneak the book out of the library. I have also discovered that it is helpful if you have multiple copies of a book and the call number doesn not match the catalog record. You then can go back and edit the record and re-print the spine label.

I work in a huge academic library. (UIUC) My unit is involved in various major transfer projects. I can't count the number of times I've turned to that written-in call number because the call number on the spine is no longer legible. And some of these items have never been barcoded, have lost barcodes, aren't listed in the Holding record, etc.

My library does this because one person does the cataloging and a different person types the spine lables. Therefore, the person who makes the decision on what the spine label should be (the cataloger) has to let the typist know what to type on the spine label. The easiest way to do that is to write the call number on the first page.

Our large, multi-branch system no longer handwrites but does place a label with call number and title on the front/first page, right above the ownership label. Ownership and barcode labels are also on the back of the title page. When I started in libraries [shortly after the invention of the printing press] we also wrote that information in the gutter of a special page [page 33 in my library] so that if the book strayed, had ownership markings removed etc., it was easy to prove ownership. Covers and labels disappear or are damaged, if the front of the book is so badly damaged that you can't read the call number, you need to withdraw the book.

Our library ceates labels that are placed on the title page of the book. We encourage everyone who copies from books to copy the title page to. That way they have all the citation information as well as the call number that lets them find the book again when they need it. It cut down on the number of panic calls from patrons needing that final bit of information for their references.

We write the call number in pencil and the acquisition number on the front cover of the book above the stock card. Quite often the cards get lost either when the book was on loan or during its trip through the book return bin. Spine labels also get lost on the same journey. Having both on the book ensures we know which copy of an edition it is and makes it quicker and easier to replace labels / cards without having to check on the OPAC. Though it sounds as if you think checking on the OPAC is quicker....

Seems like an antiquated procedure that is now an unnecessary use of time. Just stop, then look around for other stuff like this in your Library.

I loved it when a previous gig included the cost of the book "in case it was lost" next to the call number.

The practice probably predates the publication of CIP data on the verso. About the only place where the practice is still useful is if a researcher needs to track down a source again and the SOP of copying the title page and verso was followed.

Of all the book drops in all the libraries, your spine label happened to fall off in mine. Translated: Add up the time it takes to hand write the information in every single book you handle, subtract the time it takes to look up the call number when a tag falls off (which is presumably a significantly smaller number of books). And there will be your answer.

We still use pockets (gasp!) and the pockets from vendors who provide processing have the call number printed on them. We occasionally write in others when we change the number to fit our collection, but we have never done it as a matter of course, and there are very few times that it would have been useful! We are a very small library, and I can certainly see that as the size of the library and the collection gets larger, the equation of the time needed to perform this task in relation to its usefulness would become more and more unbalanced.

Yes, our library does this. I'm the one who does most of it actually. For years, our student workers used the written call number to type the labels. Now we are moving to an automated labeling program that pulls in the call numbers, but even then, it doesn't always pull the edition or volume information the way we want it printed on the label. And as someone else said, it's helpful for our students to have the written call number as a guide when applying labels, especially when a computer workstation isn't available at that time. When we typed all of the labels, we would also check them one by one against our OPAC, but now we're reconsidering this procedure since the call numbers (and locations) are pulled directly from the catalog.

The person assigning the call number is not the one making the label. Rather than writing it on another piece of paper, we put the month and year of acquisition, control number, and call number on the first page after the cover. Bonnie

I'm amazed no one has responded with a "You've never had a book returned with the cover torn off?" reply. I have. More than once.

We only write the barcode number inside the cover, in case the barcode gets ripped off, and we have more than one copy of the book.

I don't like writing on the spine in magic marker, because I am not a neat printer and the computer is quicker.

Our library does not use spine labels for any of its fiction (ya & adult), unfortunately. When we get new management and maybe a cataloging librarian instead of someone with no education or experience, this will change. Right now, without spine labels, we rely on the written call number for shelving purposes. It is written in the back with an ownership stamp and the barcode, above our date due slip. It really helps for authors with multiple names (e.g. McCall Smith) or and edited book.

We don't write call numbers, but like another we do write bar code numbers inside. I work at a high school library and we have several books every year that have bar codes or dust jackets torn off them. The bar codes let us id the book, the call numbers we get from the OPAC.

Our library is huge. Often we have more than one copy of a book, but they are kept at different locations. If the spine label is missing, it would be very difficult to determine which copy it is by checking the OPAC to make a new spine label. If the call number was not written on the verso of the title page, you would have to retrieve all the copies from the shelves to figure out which one your mystery copy was.

Also, the cataloguing department writes the call number in the book when they do their bit, then it gets passed on to the end processing department for spine labels and other things like covering and reinforcing, and it's easier to check the book for the information than the OPAC. Writing the call number inside the book is just a handy communication tool.

I would just echo lots of the previous responses. The cataloger writes the call number inside the book, which the processor consults to make the spine label. The person who covers the books looks at it to verify that the spine label was typed correctly. As a third & final check, the person who attaches the barcode looks at it also, to verify that the call number that was typed into the computer matches that written inside and on the spine. As others have said, too, it's always beneficial to question why you do certain procedures. Tessa123's answer does apply, in that you follow someone else's procedures without questioning the reason behind it, and when you do question it, it makes no sense for your situation! We have eliminated other steps for obsolete reasons, once we examined why we were doing them. If the person who started the procedure is no longer there to tell you why, it's time to stop doing it!

It is kind of funny but my library, high school is going back to typed labels. We have an automatic printer but the labels fade too quickly so I will be going back to writing the call number inside the front of the book as I will be having volunteers doing the labels.

My predecessor used to write date of purchase, price, barcode and call number inside the book. We gave up accession numbers years ago because our board has a combined database.

Noreen McKechnie

We do it at my library because the labels are all still typed on a typewriter, as we cannot figure out which font the machine uses, and therefore can't match it in the computer. The typewriter is also too far away from any of the computers too look up the call#.

We briefly stopped doing this about a year ago to streamline operations and there was practically a revolt! Supposedly it helps processing staff double check that they're matching the spine label sticker with the correct book. Also, sometimes books go from cataloguing to the people who do the spine label printing without having the call number entered on the system, but I rather think they forgot to type it in because they were too busy working it out on paper/writing it in the book. At least we're no longer writing it on a 'processing slip' as well!

It's a hangover from the days of yore. Makes perfect sense if the only alternative is fishing out a catalogue card, but otherwise not so much.