Numbers

When one thinks of libraries, one thinks of books. Despite the ebook revolution, this is still mostly true. However, libraries are also about numbers. the Count from Sesame Street would feel right at home in many libraries. On my desk, I have several sheets of paper. One records reference questions. Another records books that are shelved. I have counts for book donations, books checked out, books added to the collection. The list goes on and on. Most people who visit our library do not give a hoot about these numbers, but they are crucial to the operation of the library. It is often by these numbers that we promote ourselves to our library's chief decision makers. It is also by these numbers that we are able to measure our success. We still have books, journals, databases, chairs and tables, but we also have a lot of numbers. Time to shelve books again. "One, ha, ha, ha. Two, ha, ha, ha..."