By Lawrence I. Charters
LSA Open Stacks, Volume 23, Number 2, August 13, 1976, p. 2.
Deep in the bowels of Holland Library, reportedly near the appendix, there exists the library’s most mysterious and least understood unit: Searching (officially Bibliographic Searching). The inhabitants of the upper reaches of the building have long suspected that the creatures of Searching must surely be the most exotic, unusual, and probably sinister beings in all of TSD [Technical Services Division], and since TSD is notorious for its exotic, unusual, and sinister beings, Searchings reputation has become something of a legend.
In truth, Searching is not haunted by denizens of the deep but by bright, energetic, ingenious, and generally outstanding people dedicated to the efficient performance of their vital tasks. For, you see, it is Searching which seeks out the new materials the library needs in order to serve the university community. (Yes, the rumor is true: without books, we’d probably all be fired.) Book and periodical orders generated by the various divisions are reviewed in Searching, and several essential questions are asked (and answered): does the item exist? who wrote it? when? who published it? is it available? how much does it cost? Searching employees are often called upon to scan the entire Library of Congress catalog to answer these questions, and it is not uncommon for them to spend an amazing eight hours a day verifying orders.
Searching is also responsible for seeking out LC cataloging for materials received by the library. Items arriving on approval (Baker & Taylor for U.S. materials, Blackwell for U.K. materials) are carefully examined for even the vaguest clues (such as Cataloging-In-Publication information) which may speed the cataloging process. Many serials are also reviewed for analytical entries, and almost everything purchased or given to the library passes through Searching at least once on its way to the stacks. A good overview of order and LC searching procedures may be found in “If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Searching” (Open Stacks v.21, no.7, pp.6-7).
Library personnel are most familiar with Searching’s task of tracking down items that have disappeared in TSD, and some have concluded that the unit was especially formed for this one task (fortunately, this is far from accurate). Exactly what happens to materials between time of receipt in the mail and delivery to the various divisions is, of course, shrouded in the deepest secrecy, but the Searching staff, because of their uncommon natural brilliance, have managed to expose even the cleverest book disguise, probe the most inaccessible nook, and do other things you won’t believe either. About the only things Searching cannot find are lost dogs and cats, change for the lounge vending machines, and members of the Searching Staff.
So, the next time you see someone with six-inch fangs at the card catalog, do not jump to the conclusion that this is a Searcher. Careful (very careful) investigation may reveal that this is just an individual from Card Production.