Book drops

In response to Jan's question about bookdrops:  We have one, but it is
kept locked during hours that the circulation desk is open.  We have a
sign on top of the bookdrop informing patrons that materials may be
returned only at the circulation desk when the book drop is locked.
Since we are a small library, we are able to set the interior shelf of
the drop fairly high, so the books don't have far to fall.  We've also
padded the inside with thick foam rubber, and have been asking people to
put books in the chute spine down on the theory that impact on the spine
is less damaging than on the fore-edge (assuming the boards stay
closed).  Does anyone have evidence to support or refute this theory?

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 4:48
                 Distributed: Thursday, March 14, 1991
                        Message Id: cdl-4-48-001
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