Brown, 'Computer Snafu Strikes Library Binding', NCSU Libraries Newsletter v20n03 (October 1992)
 
_The NCSU Libraries Newsletter_
Volume 20 no. 3
October 1992
Brown, Kathleen
"Computer Snafu Strikes Library Binding"


An essential component of the Binding Section's work flow at 
the library is a database that contains information about 
binding patterns (frequency of binding for a journal title, the 
color of binding used, technical details about binding 
specifications, etc.) and about the binding history of titles.  
The database also provides a means of tracking titles being 
processed at the bindery in Indiana.

During the week of September 21, programming errors at the 
bindery eradicated the "at-the-bindery" portion of the file, and 
the system would not accept the Libraries' back-up files.  This 
resulted in the loss of the "at-the-bindery" list that is 
normally available for patrons at the Periodicals Service 
Center and at Reference.  Staff have continued to help patrons 
by consulting paper work slips (one back-up that did not fail!).  
The binder will be reimbursing the Libraries for the labor 
costs involved in reconstructing the lost data, and work is 
underway on that project.  Binding expects to produce a 
complete and accurate "at-the-bindery" list on October 16, and 
regrets any inconvenience that patrons may have experienced 
during the past three weeks.