I just read your wonderful rant about "use it or lose it" applying to libraries, and I have a question about reshelving cart usage. I've always used those for books which I walk away from the shelf with, but it sounds like I'm being too conservative about which books I put on it? Two different cases: pulling books off the shelf to see if I'm interested in the contents, or pulling them off the shelf to check a title which was obscured by the library sticker. Should those go to the cart?
Both of those should, for two reasons.
First, putting something on the cart shows library staff and administration that said item is something at least one patron is interested in. This can influence which items are weeded from the collection, and it can also influence what new items are purchased.
Second, it is important for items to be in the correct order and location on the shelves. While you may be completely confident you’re putting an item back exactly where it was, it’s better to err on the side of caution and allow library staff to reshelve books. Additionally, libraries tend to shelve materials at the very front of the shelf so their spines are easily visible. If you aren’t careful when reshelving, you may accidentally push another item to the back of the shelf, making that item difficult to access.















