[IUG] clarification: bib vs. item call numbers

[Joan Pirie <jopirie at vassar dot edu>]

Well, there doesn't appear to be much enthusiasm for item level call numbers!

Just to clarify the types of problems we have encountered:

If we have a bib with two items, one of which has an LC call number and one 
of which has an 099 call number:  If we ask the system to output the bib 
call number, both will be output.

We currently have both 050 and 090 indexed as LC call numbers; to exclude 
the 099's, we would have to output the 050's and 090's separately, which 
would not be very productive when we want a list in shelflist order.

One solution might be to change all the 090's to 050 4, and then output the 
050 field.

We would still have a problem with children's literature, where the Main 
library classes in PZ and Special Collections classes in PR/PS, etc.  If we 
want to output a list for a Main library inventory, we would have to 
manually select the PZ call number from the data output (and it may not 
have sorted as we would have wished in the call number sort).

We would also continue to have a problem with the output of analyzed 
monographic series, which are x-linked (monographic bib would have call # 
PR1 .E52 v.20; x-linked item would have  LC-indexed call number of PR1 
.E52, with volume field  v.20.  Currently the system outputs the record 
twice (even if we are making an item list which was de-duped), which I 
believe we were told was an "expected behavior."

Thanks to all who replied thus far!



Joan Pirie
Head of Cataloging
Vassar College Libraries
Box 295
124 Raymond Ave.
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604-0295
845-437-5778
845-437-7128 (fax)