 Before
automated
circulation systems, we had McBee Cards. The McBee Keysort System
consisted of punched cards and a needle. Different types of information
could be written on the cards, such as borrower status, item call
numbers, and due-date.  Holes around the edges of the cards could be punched out, so
that when the needle was inserted in the desired place, those cards
which satisfied
certain criteria would fall out of the pile. McBee cards could be
multi-part, with one part being made of heavy cardboard, another of
paper, perhaps with a tear-off stub. |
 When a book went overdue,
the paper copy could be mailed to
the borrower. A notch could be punched in the appropriate place, so cards satisfying certain criteria would "fall out" of the deck. This late
model McBee needle has a plastic handle. |
Earlier
models were made of wood. McBees were
used in
circulation and interlibrary loan, for inventories, and more.