The Augustan Society, Inc., maintains and operates a library on the subjects of Chivalry, Genealogy, Heraldry, History, Royalty & Nobility. Other topics covered include maps, numismatics, philatelics, and material used for staff support such as style manuals.
The departement is headed by the Library Committee Chairman, who is styled [[Librarian]], who . He is appointed by the [[President]] and serves at his pleasure (unless this title is included in the [[Contract|Consuls' Contract]].
The work of the Library is conducted by a loosely organized group called the Library Committee, though it does not function as a conventional committee with meetings, minutes, etc. The activities include:
At present, [[Consuls]] are responsible for all of the above. They would delight to delegate any or all of this work to volunteers.
==Location==
The physical location of the Library is at ExtraSpace Storage, 13125 S John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32837, United States. The stacks with cataloged books are in Unit 986. Uncataloged material is in Unit 961. Some materials in process are at [[Headquarters]].
==Accessions==
Due to the large amount of uncataloged material, accessions -- particularly purchases -- must reasonably be constrained:
:# Marta Metcalf, FAS, may offer her genealogical collection as a long-term loan as long as the Library is open to the public. This will likely be delayed until all genealogical material has been cataloged.
==[[Cataloging]]==
The collection is cataloged using [http://koha-community.org Koha], an open source library software system. This includes an [[Online Public Access Catalog]] or OPAC, which is on the Internet and accessible by all.
# Photographs (pending their being processed by the [[Photo Collection Study Group]])
# Ephemera*
# Museum artifacts (these may get a separate catalog)
* These categories will be delayed until funds are available for shelf boxes.
The public web page on this topic is [http://augustansociety.org/cpage.php?pt=67 here].
==Classification System==
The classification system is a unique creation designed to meet the specific needs of our unusual collection. Click here to view the [[Classification System]].
Another innate bias is toward treating history as biography. A work on the reign of Henry III would be listed under Royal Biography rather than History.
===Sub-Classification by authors===
Most classifications are then sorted by author. Cutter numbers (following the model of the Library of Congress) are used for this purpose. Where an author has multiple titles, the titles are used as a third group, also using Cutter numbers. When multiple editions are held, dates are used.
===Sub-Classification by families or houses===
Classifications GFN and RH are sorted by the name of the family or noble house using Cutter numbers. Third order sorts are by author, as above.
===Sub-Classification by dates===
Classification RB (Biography, individuals and couples) is sorted by date of birth of the subject. Care must be taken to precede dates with “BC” as needed, despite this confounding the automated sorting procedures. Third order sorts are by author, as above.
==Spine Labels==
Spine labels will not be created until the collection has been cataloged, as the process may drive changes in the classification system and Cutter numbers. The data to be printed on the labels, and the use of them on rare or valuable volumes, is to be determined.
Technology may suggest that we want to supplement the printed information on the labels with a barcode, either in black & white or using UV ink. This will depend on available and affordable technology at time time of label creation.
==Shelving==
Books and periodicals are shelved in the order of classification. This results in some things being out of alphabetical order (e.g.: Switzerland’s code is CH, which puts it far from where an alphabetical sort would file it). Dates BC are shelved before dates AD, in chronological order.
Damaged items may be placed on the bottom shelf as near as practical to their classification, but it may prove prudent to remove these to storage boxes to minimize further damage.
==Rebinding and Repair==
Standards need to be set for rebinding, and these should probably match those set for the bindings of Society publications. Current thinking is black ¾ covers, with a goldenrod spine, author/title printed in black. This needs to be run past our binder to ensure practicality.
# Library staff selection of items with the highest ratio of damage to repair cost
==Deaccessions==
The pressure to weed the collection will come from three sources: Academic cleansing, shelving space, and revenue from sales. Only the last of these is likely to be a strong motivator in the immediate future.