The Library Processing Center is located at Doris Miller Center. The purpose of the Processing Center is to assist libraries with cataloging projects and clerical tasks. The following projects are handled by the processing center staff:

(1)   cataloging materials sent from schools

(2)   processing preview books

(3)   processing large lots of donated materials (single titles) and  sending copies  to schools

(4)   assisting librarians with special projects as needed

How do I send materials to the processing center?

Contact Debbie Hall at 713-861-1204. Describe the scope of the cataloging project. (how many items are being sent)

How do I get the materials to Doris Miller Center?

You may choose to either bring in the material yourself or use school mail.

How do I prepare the material to send it in?

Use sturdy boxes. Label all boxes with the school name and number the boxes 1 of 2 , etc. Stamp all items with the library ownership stamp. Include a simple packing slip with  your school name, your name, and the number of boxes in the shipment.  If using the school mail, address as follows:

Library Processing Center

Doris Miller Center

5216 Feagan St.

Route 6

Will the Processing Center process all items?  No, some items may be deemed unsuitable for processing according to the guidelines below. We will discard them from here.

Guidelines for preparing books to be sent to the Library Processing Center

 1.  Does it pass the quality test?

Any item sent in should be relevant to the curriculum or of interest to the general school population. Don’t send it in for cataloging just because it is there or someone donated it.  An exception to this rule would be district curriculum items are good quality items but would be better circulated like a magazine or temporary item rather than cataloged.

      2. Do not send items that are:

•  Musty

• Out of date

• In poor condition

• Flimsy paperback binding *

     3.  Organize and sort materials to be sent  prior to packing

•  Rubber band duplicate copies together

• Pack audiovisuals in separate boxes

       4.  Check to make sure that the item is not already cataloged. Sometimes we receive items that have been cataloged by vendors according to the barcode we see on the item. If a vendor’s disk has been lost, it is much quicker to contact the vendor and ask for a replacement disk.  This is much quicker than having the Processing Center duplicate these records.

        5.  Make sure that all items have:

• Been stamped with your school ownership stamp

• Been packed in strong secure boxes labeled with school name

• Been packed in boxes labeled one of one, one of two, etc.

  Examples of what not to send:

  Format archaic – computer disks are on their way out

  2003 Encyclopedia on CD – too old

  HISD District Profiles 2005-2006 – Local information not to be cataloged

  Video giveaway from Burger King – quality issue

  HISD TAKS strategies manual -  Quality test

  Books discarded from other libraries

* We catalog paperbacks that have sturdy bindings but this would exclude many bookfair items received as payment for hosting a bookfair

Keep your server on at all times so we can create barcode labels for your items.

When will I get my materials back?

We have a small staff and it will take as long as 2 months depending on the number of items you send in. When your material is ready, you will receive an e-mail notice that your books are being shipped through school mail. Your books will be shelf ready unless you are otherwise notified. This means that the records have been imported into your system and have spine labels and barcodes. Please check the order in by scanning all items in bookdrop mode.

To see a chart illustrating how materials are processed click on the link below:

Library Processing Center Workflow