2.1 Purpose of branding information materials

Branding information materials means putting permanent marks of ownership, identity and security on every item before it joins the collection. A branded item can be recognised at a glance as belonging to a particular library, linked to its record, shelved in the right place and traced if it goes missing. Branding is done after the item has been verified and before it is placed on the shelf, and it follows the library's own branding policy so that every item is marked in the same places. Example: the library of a vocational training centre in Kangundo brands all new carpentry and plumbing manuals before they are entered into the loan system.

Main purposes of branding

• Proof of ownership: Stamps and labels show that the item is the property of the library or its parent institution, which settles disputes and supports recovery of lost or stolen items.
• Deterring theft and unauthorised removal: Visible marks make an item hard to sell or claim, and magnetic strips trigger the security gate when an item leaves without being issued.
• Identification of each copy: Accession numbers and barcodes distinguish one copy from another, even when the library holds many copies of the same title.
• Linking the item to its record: The number on the item matches its entry in the accession register and catalogue, so staff can find its full details and history.
• Supporting circulation: Barcodes and labels allow items to be issued and returned quickly and accurately with a scanner or by hand.
• Correct shelving and retrieval: The call number label on the spine shows where the item belongs, so it is reshelved correctly and users find it easily.
• Stock-taking and audit: Branded items can be counted and checked against the register during the annual stock-take, and missing items can be identified.
• Recovery of misplaced items: Items left in classrooms, offices or other libraries can be returned to the right owner.
• Image and identity: A neat, consistent ownership mark presents the library professionally and reminds users whose resource they are using.

Where branding marks are usually placed

• Title page: The institutional stamp, because the title page is the most important page and is rarely removed.
• Verso of the title page: The accession number and sometimes the date of accession.
• Secret page: A security stamp on an agreed page known only to staff.
• Edges of the text block: Some libraries stamp the top or side edges of the closed book.
• Spine and covers: The call number label on the spine and the barcode on the front or back cover.
• Inside the spine or between pages: The magnetic security strip, hidden from view.

Example: a university college library in Bondo stamps the title page, the last page of text and page 50 of every book, and records the secret page number in its branding manual.