Printing Spine Labels

BACKGROUND: The Catalog Department has produced spine labels in a variety of ways, most recently using sheets of labels (forty labels to a sheet). After much studying the various techniques available and considering the end product it was determined that a “Se-lin” type label would provide clarity in labeling, fine adhesion to a variety of surfaces, and also be archival.

SCOPE: The scope of this procedure is to provide instruction in producing labels from the previous day’s cataloging production. Additionally, items that are in need of spine labels that are not contained on the diskette may use this procedure.

CONVENTIONS: When looking for menu selections from the menu bar, a sans-serif font is used in the examples. For example, to change the format of the label from SP1 to SL6, go to Options > Format > SL6

IMPORTING AND PRODUCING SPINE LABELS

1. Launch the OCLC Spine Label program.



2. Remove the diskettes from the truck that need to be processed. These will be in a folder/envelope of some type adhered to the truck.



3. Place a diskette in the disk drive.



4. Hit the F5 function key to “Import the Label File”. This will begin the process to read the diskette.



5. You will be prompted with a “File Open Window”. The program is seeking out a “labels.svs” file. Click the OK button.



6. The “Import File Format” window will appear. Make sure SP1 is chosen. Click the “OK” button (or hit <ENTER>) to confirm.



7. When prompted, delete the file on the diskette. (We use the SP1 format)



8. Repeat step 4 until all the diskettes have been loaded.



9. Hit the F3 function key to “Search the Label File”.



10. Click the “LIST ALL” button to list the complete imported file.



11. Examine the file to see if any of the call numbers look “funny” or “odd”. If they do, to examine the spine label:
     
1. Double-click on the label in question to bring it up.
2. Edit the label as needed. <F4> to save the label.
3. Then <CTRL><F4> to unlock the label and close the label editing window.



 
12. Edit any labels using Step 8 above. If there is a spine label longer than 7 lines, change the format to a SL6 format to do this.



13. To change format: Click the “Options” from the menu bar and then choose “Format” and then “SL6"...



14. Add the space beneath the “REF” or “OVERSIZE” or any other stamp used on the spine labels. If the stamps are not capitalized, you will need to Capitalize them. (Again, use step 8 above to editing the label).



15. After all the labels are to your satisfaction, click the “SPINE” column bar to sort the labels in spine order. (Make sure that the format is now SP1 again).



16. Click the first LABEL in the list. THEN go to the end of the list and hold the <SHIFT> key down and click the last label. This will highlight the whole set.



17. Hit the F12 key to print.



18. If the printing looks good, delete the labels from the program. Since they should already be highlighted, <CTRL>-<F7> will delete them.

CREATING SPINE LABELS FROM SCRATCH

If you need to create a spine label from scratch:

 
1. <F8> to bring up a blank label form.



2. Type in the label as you wish it to appear.



3. <F4> to save the label.



4. <CTRL>-<F4> to store the label and unlock it. (Otherwise the label will not print)



5. <F3> to display the list of labels to be printed.



6. Follow the Step 11 and on from above.

WORKING WITH SE-LIN LABELS

Spine label stock is lined up with the red line on tape on back of dot matrix printer.

Spine label stock is fed through the printer manually until enough stock is above printer head. (Printer must be powered off to work manually, or the gears can be stripped).

After printing labels, feed enough stock to be able to cut CLEANLY. Then manually roll stock back into printer. (POWER PRINTER OFF TO MANUALLY MOVE LABEL STOCK)

Use the plexiglass jig to laminate the spine labels with the cover tape.

Created December 30 2002
Revised 28 January 2003.
Questions or comments: email Jeffrey Trimble