The day the earth shook

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into issues encountered in maintaining library technologies and electronic collections on a limited budget and with limited personnel.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses real world experiences and anecdotal evidence to provide commentary on progress and the future of libraries as it relates to letting go of iconic resources that may have outlived their usefulness.

Findings

The 754 volume Mansell Catalog was once heralded as a bibliographic wonder of the world. Thirty years after its completion, it is still revered by many in the profession. While it includes substantial content not reflected in the OCLC WorldCat database, it is rarely used at our medium sized state university and occupies almost 130 linear feet of shelving

Originality/value

This paper examines one library's struggles with the decision making process in the aftermath of an earthquake that seemingly targeted the much revered Mansell Catalog, once described as, “the greatest single instrument of bibliographical control in existence.”

Citation

McMullen, A. (2013), "The day the earth shook", The Bottom Line, Vol. 26 No. 3, pp. 92-94. https://doi.org/10.1108/BL-07-2013-0019