[276] in ad-lib
placeholders!
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (perkins@MIT.EDU)
Mon Apr 3 13:39:12 1995
From: perkins@MIT.EDU
To: advancecirc-lib@MIT.EDU
Date: Mon, 03 Apr 1995 13:38:54 EDT
So how are we going to circulate uncataloged items on the new system,
when "TEMP" records are a thing of past? The answer is Placeholders.
"Placeholders" are discussed on page 4-47 of the Circ User's Guide,
and I talked to Matt Goldner about them last week. Placeholders will
work in a similar way to the TEMP records, but with a few important
exceptions:
-with the TEMP records, we (in circ) created the title-level records
in BIB QRY in the circ database. With Placeholders, the "title-level"
record is created by Cataloging.
-Placeholder records will display in the OPAC.
Last week, Goldner set up a sample Placeholder record just to show how
the process works. The record has a title of "zzzMaps for loan".
(The zzz is just to place it at the end of the OPAC file.) You can
look up and display this record via a title search or just do an LCN
(for local control number) search on this number: 10717010. (An LCN
search is easy to do; just select a call number search, and in the box
enter: LCN=10717010. There are probably other ways to do it, but I
know this works.) You'll get the brief display; hit 1 to get the
"holdings display."
The User's Guide is slightly misleading in what it says about
Placeholders. On p. 4-47, it says "Set up item records for as many
temporary barcodes as a serial item may require." This implies that
Placeholders are only for serials, but that's NOT the case. We can
use them for any uncat items. But what that sentence refers to is
this type of scenario: a library wants to circulate its unbound,
unbarcoded copies of The New Yorker online; the staff estimates that
at any given time, a maximum of 10 single-issue New Yorkers will be
circulating; hence, they set up a "title-level" Placeholder record for
the New Yorker, and they link 10 barcodes to that record. Using these
barcodes, 10 envelopes (or some kind of container) are barcoded.
Whenever a patron brings an issue of the New Yorker to the circ desk
to be checked out, the circ staffer reaches for one of the New Yorker
envelopes. (I think this would be realistic for a small library, but
probably not for us. We have too many "popular titles.")
Here's an overview of how, for example, Lindgren might use
Placeholders to circulate maps:
-we arrange for the Cat. Dept. to set up a "title" record similar to
the sample record noted above (LCN 10717010). (Note that the holdings
display for the record has a "Y" in the Placeholder field.)
-Lindgren staff decides how many maps might be circulating at any
given time, and links that number of barcodes to the title record.
(Matt demonstrated how to link the barcodes to the record.)
-Lindgren staff attaches the barcodes to map tubes (or whatever).
-When a patron checks out a map, staff grabs a map container and wands
the barcode on it. A "serial identifier" window appears! Staffer types
in some info to identify the map, e.g., Map of Chelmsford, MA. (NOTE:
the serial identifier field is larger than the window; just keep
typing.)
-The map will show up on the patron's ITEM list. Info entered in the "serial
identifier" window shows up in OPAC (should anyone happen to stumble
upon it.) (NOTE: in release 7.0, this data will be "maskable" in the
OPAC, I'm told.)
-When the barcode is scanned at Check-in, the text in the "serial
identifier" field is automatically cleared! I'm not sure if this is
good or bad, but that's how it is. (Actually, for most cases, that's
good; not good if it's a very popular map. Means re-entering item
data at next charge-out.)
* * * *
So, here's what we need to do:
-we need to ask Cataloging to set up some Placeholder "title" records
for us to test.
-We need to decide what placeholder records we're going to want use in the new
system. I guess this is a local option. For example, Hayden may wish
to circulate uncat maps manually, but circulate uncat tech reports
online using placeholders.
-Once we've decided the above, we (i.e., a few of us) need to meet
with Jo Lynne in Cataloging. As I mentioned, these records will be set up
by the Cat. Dept., after which we will do our own barcode-linking. In
a recent message to me, Sarah Mitchell noted that we need to come up
with standards for the data that goes into these records, and have a
searchable field in them so they can all be located in the future,
if necessary. I don't think this will be onerous. (Rather than
"standards", I prefer the term "consistency". Shows I'm not a cataloger.)
* * * *
It seems like I'm always looking for volunteers! Sorry! Who would
like to work on this? We will get input from each unit, but right now
I just need a couple of people to help me nail down our procedures.
If your library is one of those which circulates a lot of uncat
material online, you'll probably want to be involved in this. So
let's hear from those who traffic heavily in TEMP records.
And, as always, my thanks. -AP
