Music Library Staff Guide: Labeling Print Items

Call number labels for books should be affixed either to the spine or the bottom left corner of the cover when the spine is too slim. Labeling items at the top left corner of the spine is considered bad practice, as library patrons will frequently pull at the top of the book’s spine to see the call number, eventually separating the spine from the pages. 

Labels should be trimmed to a fourth of an inch between the edge of the label and the text. Use a spacer (the cardboard squares covered with electrical tape at the desk) to gauge how high to place the label on the spine. If the spine is too slim, use a spacer to gauge how high and how far to the right of the spine the label should be placed on the bottom left corner of the cover (mirroring the portion of the spacer designated “Book label mark”). 

Label protectors should always be used.  Rather than trimming label protectors to size, always use the entirety of a label protector for print items. When choosing how to place the label protector over the label (horizontally or vertically), the label protector should cover as much surface area on the sides of the book/score as possible for best adhesion. To navigate the bumps and indentations between the spine and cover of hardbacks, always use the thinnest, most pliable label protectors available.

A stamp of ownership is applied to all print items except for those items where a special gift marker is used in the stamp’s place.  Stamp the cover verso (the inside of the front cover), at the center whenever possible.  If the stamp would mar artwork or not be visible at the cover verso, stamp the first page.  If there is no space on the first page, stamp the next page, and so on. 

For placement of tattle-tape, a bayonet (a long metal strip) should be used.  Two methods for applying tattle-tape using the bayonet can be employed. 

Method one is for hardback books. (1) Remove the cellophane from the tattle-tape and stick a small portion at the end of the strip to the tip of the bayonet, forming one straight line. (2) With the adhesive side of the tattle-tape facing outward so that it will adhere to the inside of the spine, carefully slide the bayonet between the spine and the pages of the book. If the bayonet cannot be easily inserted, discontinue method one and use method two. (3) Bring the inserted tip of the bayonet out from the bottom of the book and stop when the tattle-tape is between the spine and pages. (4) Press down on the spine so that the tattle-tape will adhere to the inside. (5) Bring the bayonet out from the spine completely. The tattle-tape should be completely hidden. 

Method two is for paperbacks and for hardbacks for which method one could not be employed. (1) Remove the cellophane from the tattle-tape and adhere the tip of the bayonet to the middle of tattle-tape, forming a “T” shape. (2) Open the book to a portion near the end of the book. (3) With the tattle-tape at the tip of the bayonet and the adhesive side down, using a slight side-to-side movement, slowly work the tattle-tape inward towards the spine, as far as possible to where the two pages you are working between meet. (4)  With the tattle-tape in place, close the book. Press downward on the cover with the palm of your hand, close to the spine, so that the tattle-tape adheres to the pages. (5) To release the tattle-tape from the bayonet, continue to slightly move the bayonet from side-to-side until the tattle-tape releases. (6) Slide the bayonet out from between the pages.

Special pre-printed labels are available for materials with accompanying media shelved in our media cabinets. These should be placed on the back cover next to the item barcode. 

Pre-printed labels are also available for scores with instrumental parts. Write the number of items housed within the score’s back pocket on the label and place the label on the back cover next to the item barcode. 

Loose parts associated with a score are not labeled, but they should be stamped with ownership information. Ownership should be stamped unobtrusively on the front page of each part.

Some large gift collections may require donor labels. Glue and a brush to apply glue, needed for most donor labels, are available at the processing desk. For books and scores, apply glue to the back of the label and affix the label to the center of the cover verso (the inside of the front cover). For audiovisual materials, there is no standard location for the application of donor labels. Trim the donor label to its smallest possible size, apply glue and affix the label to an area of packaging that is the least obtrusive and covers the least amount of information. One may also place donor labels within audiovisual commentary booklets. Whenever using the brush at the processing desk to apply glue, always remember to wash the brush with detergent and water after use.