Own Your Very Own Card Catalog!
The University of Washington is selling some card catalogs in a surplus sale.
Even a wooden one with brass pulls is cheaper than all of the books on someone’s wishlist. Anyone want to support a librarian’s dream? I already know what I would do with it. Besides, this would give me an excuse to do that roadtrip I’ve been dreaming of, too. I wonder if a disassembled catalog would fit in my car …
Looking at the photos has me thinking back to when I used to file card catalog cards. (Yes, I am old enough to have learned how to file card catalog cards, thank you very much.) I always liked pulling the rods out of the drawers in front of patrons, especially unruly library users. They’re almost as long as the drawer and resemble long, thick knitting needles, complete with a nice point on the end. Customers would always get a little nervous, thinking that somehow all the cards in the drawer would be magically out of order because I removed the rod. As long as no one knocks the drawer over, the cards stay nicely in order. They were almost always amazed when I easily slid the rod back in the drawer. I don’t think I ever did sword fight with someone using card catalog rods.
February 18th, 2004 at 9:40 am
I wish that I had known that you wanted a card catalog. When the library I was working at previously was getting rid of some of its old units (for free), I told several people, but no one was interested. I really wanted one, but I did not have a way to transport it home nor a place to put it. (After all, the old library carrel in my room already takes up a bunch of space).
Well, if I see or hear anything in the future, I will definitely let you know
.