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Thanks to everyone who gave advice on this subject.

To summarise:

1.  No-one appears to assess the quality of the CD-ROM, people just assume that it's of the same standard as the book.  In my opinion, though, this isn't always the case.  I occasionally check CDs at random to see what's on them and quite often there is a lot of dross, publicity for software packages etc.  But who has time to check?!

2.  There seems to be differing practices in cataloguing.  One respondent said that they don't even bother cataloguing CDs, arguing that publishers only include them to bump the price of the item up.  But they keep 1 copy of the CD at the desk, in no particular order, and don't lend them out.  Indeed, borrowers are not even informed that there IS an accompanying CD!  (Is it worth actually keeping them then?!)

There seems to be differing opinion about the need to catalogue the CD as a separate item.  Creating a "linked" or "child" record for the CD, attached to the book record seems to be popular.  At the very least, there is normally an indication on book and CD records that there is an accompanying CD/book (which is what we do at Hackney at the moment).

3.  The main problem is still where/how to keep the CDs.  A few respondents said that they find it easier to keep the CD with the book, either in a pocket in the back/front of the book, or in a pocket in a ringbinder next to the appropriate book (not sure the latter is very practical!).

4.  The question of issuing obviously depends on whether CD and book are given separate barcode numbers.  One respondent said they keep CD and book together and issue as a single item (using book barcode number - CD not catalogued).  The CD pocket is then checked on return.  Others said they issue both separately.

5.  Security.  Some places don't catalogue their CDs, yet put them without a security tag on the open shelves with the books.  All I can say is that they wouldn't last long here!

A few respondents said that they use special CD-ROM security stickers, which is something we can look into if we decide to put the CDs with the books.  I'm wondering how time-consuming it is, and is the price of each tag justified?

Can I just add a note as well to a respondent who said they put a "Don't desensitise" sticker on the items which hold CD-ROMs - as another respondent pointed out you can't damage CDs by desensitising them, only audio and video tapes (magnetic).


Generally, practices are varied.  I think I shall look into the possibility of buying CD-ROM security tags, and keeping them in a pocket in the book.  It's getting out of hand at the issue desk now!   If we did that, I'm not sure that we would catalogue them separately, as we do at the moment.

One last thing, someone pointed out that in their experience only CDs that go with IT books are actually borrowed, other subject categories rarely get taken out. (something which happens here, too)


Anyway...thanks again to everyone who replied.

Rachel Price