[IUG] RE:bib call numbers vs item call numbers

["Ann Nieuwkoop" <Ann dot Nieuwkoop at westernsem dot edu>]

I have been struggling with a very similar problem in that we have two
libraries sharing our database. Our library has the call number in the
bib record if we are the soul owner of the title. If both libraries own
the title then our call number goes into the item record. This was a
decision made by III at our migration and we are still trying to make
sense of it. Our library can not get call number information solely for
our materials. Create list searches require looking in both the bib and
item record so call numbers for the other library are included. In staff
modules brief record displays we can't get our call number if both
libraries own the title and in OPAC patrons can't save or print in the
brief record format and get our call number if both libraries own the
title. Putting call numbers in both the bib and item records results in
duplicate hits in call number searches. Do other libraries with shared
systems all have their call number information only in the item records?
And how does that impact staff module brief display, the inventory
module, OPAC saved records etc? And as Joan asked earlier, if we were to
make a mass migration of call number information from the bib record to
the item record how can we do this as painlessly as possible? All I want
for Christmas is to be able to see my call numbers. 

Ann Nieuwkoop
Associate Library Director
Beardslee Library
Western Theological Seminary
101 E 13th St
Holland MI 49423
616 392-8555 ext 141 phone
616 392-8889 fax
ann at westernsem dot edu
 






Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 16:28:16 -0500
From: Joan Pirie <jopirie at vassar dot edu>
Subject: [IUG] IUG: bib call numbers vs. item call numbers
To: innopac at innopacusers dot org
Message-ID: <5 dot 2 dot 1 dot 1 dot 2 dot 20051219161324 dot 011c5ce8 at pop dot vassar dot edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

We are a "vintage" site which has historically stored call number data
in 
the bibliographic record, only storing item level call numbers when we
have 
either 099 call numbers for a local collection, or perhaps an analyzed 
monographic series with x-links between the serial record and the
related 
monographic record.

Over the past year or so we have done a number of inventory projects
(not 
using the III inventory module) and barcoding projects, each of which 
required output of call number data into a database.  The records in
which 
we  have multiple call numbers (paper serials with microtext backfiles,
or 
the examples listed above), created a quality-control nightmare with
large 
numbers of records which had to be manually massaged to get the output
we 
were looking for.

My question is:  would our lives have been better if we stored all call 
numbers in the item records as well as the bibliographic records?  Will 
this create a problem with the WebOPAC display?  And, if we should move
to 
including call numbers in the item records, is there a painless way to 
input that data (the only batch process I can think of is to "modify
group" 
for serial titles, leaving many thousands of monographs to be slogged 
through one-by-one).

Also (assuming we move to item call numbers), should we index both, or
rely 
on the indexing of the bib call number (to avoid multiple false hits in
the 
WebOPAC?), and just use the item call number for data display and output

purposes?

Any advice would be appreciated!







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