Floating Collections

Acknowledgments
Introduction to Floating Collections
Why Floating Works for Today's Libraries
A Word about eBooks
It Is Not All About the Money
Why a Book on Floating Collections?
Organization
Methodology
Common Concerns That Are Addressed
Chapter One: The History of Floating Collections
Floating Collections
How the Float Behaves-and Misbehaves
The Advantages and Disadvantages of a Floating Collection
Who Floats, Who Does Not, and Why
Has Anyone Ever Quit Floating?
Is Floating Right for Your Library System?
Chapter Two: Deciding Whether or Not to Float the Collection
Steering a Middle Course
How Will Floating Affect the Patrons?
How Will Floating Affect Circulation?
How Will Floating Affect the Staff?
How Will Floating Affect the Collection?
How Will Floating Affect Fellow Consortia Libraries?
Are There Other Mind-Bending, Paradigm-Shifting, Major Upheavals Taking Place?
Have Like Libraries Converted Successfully to Floating?
What Are the Hidden Costs or Risks?
Is Now the Right Time to Centralize?
What Is the Worst-Case Scenario?
Whom to Involve
Deciding to Float: Discussion Questions
Chapter Three: Prediction and Preparation
Branch Size and Circulation Rank
Measuring Patron Behavior
Predicting Success
Calculating the Prefloat Percentage
Tracking the Invisible Patron: Floating and the Hold Shelf
Location, Location, Location
Heed the Weed
Interpreting Results
Chapter Four: Communication: Preparing the Staff
Staff Morale
Managing the Change
Staff Concerns before the Float
Planning Staff Communication
Branch Visits
Rebalancing Work Group
Postfloat Staff Concerns
Chapter Five: Preparing the Collection to Float
What Should NOT Float
The High Cost of Bad Shelving Practices
The 24-Door-to-Floor Shelving Method
The Big Weed
Chapter Six: Implementation and Postfloat Considerations
Implementation and Postfloat Communication
Postfloat Branch Visits
The Postfloat Percentage
Rebalancing
The Float Is Right; the Shelves Are Wrong
Chapter Seven: Managing a Floating Collection in the Long Term
Selecting and Budgeting for a Floating Collection
The Importance of Branch Visits for Selectors
Floating and Circulation
Patron Behavior, Not Staff Opinion
Core Collection and Weeding
Vetting Old Editions in a Floating Collection
Weeding a Floating Collection
Epilogue: Floating and the User Experience
Floating and the User Experience
Collection Work and the User Experience
Facility Planning and Design and the User Experience
Readers' Advisory, Merchandising/Displays, Programming and the User Experience
Conclusion
Appendix A: 10 Great Reasons to Float
Appendix B: Partial List of Floating Libraries
Appendix C: Floating Risk Evaluation
Appendix D: Deciding to Float
Appendix E: Chart for Prefloat Branch Visits
Appendix F: Staff Communication
Appendix G: Communication Timeline
Appendix H: Sample 24-Door-to-Floor Cart Tag
Bibliography
Index