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In all things, procedures as well as behaviors, consistency and good communication are necessary for maintaining control of collections. That is why we create and share them with each other, rather than leaving each person to invent their own, eventually leading to misunderstanding, missing material, and chaos. As far as communication goes, the more staff feel comfortable asking questions and sharing expertise, the better control there will be. Working slowly and methodically also helps keep stress levels at a minimum, which is good for communication. It is best not to be in a big hurry to get things done. It is better to take the time to let experiences sink in, and to learn from each other.
Ideally, we would like to present materials in a way that demonstrates we operate as a team, in ways that encourage respect and care. To illustrate this point, since end processing sees all manner of different ways that collections "end" up, here are some examples of undesirable outcomes when consistency and communication are ignored. It is also of note that consistency without authority has little chance of success. So the engagement and support of administrative staff is also very important. Keeping the manual up to date, and reminding others about it is another good way to establish control and encourage best practices.
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