Re: [IUG] branch location "gotcha's"

["Eyler, Carol" <ceyler at carleton dot edu>]

Hi Sue,

To your concern about being able to notate codes tables for clarity & 
accuracy of use, I can only add "duh???"

I have worked with III systems since 1990 and this problem has always 
bugged me.  We should certainly be able to have one or more notes fields in 
all of the codes tables (not just branch/location), where we can record 
when the code was first used, what each code should be used for (which is 
NOT always apparent in the MEANING), whether a branch code is "valid" in 
bib, item or both, etc.  But instead we have to keep this information in 
auxiliary spreadsheets, which staff may or may not refer to at the point of 
need.

It should also be possible to code branch/location codes so that they are 
validated & only offered for those records types in which they are valid. 
This is a huge issue for us, since we have some codes that are valid only 
in bib records, some that are valid only in items and some in both.  Also 
the HOME LIBR codes sometimes end up being used in other record types.

I have asked III for this information to be integrated into the codes 
tables numerous times, but I must confess that I have given up.  I don't 
know whether this issue is on the current list of enhancement requests, but 
I'm glad that you have added it.  Thank you.

~Carol
=========================================
Carol E. Eyler                                 ceyler at carleton dot edu
Head of Technical Services
Carleton College Library                507-646-4268 voice
One North College St.                    507 646-4087 fax
Northfield, MN 55057
=========================================

--On Thursday, January 25, 2007 9:02 AM -0800 Sue E Boggs <boggs at ups dot edu> 
wrote:

> Hi,
>
>
>
> We are a one site library so our branch codes reflect shelving locations
> like reference, video stacks or government documents. Yesterday I
> discovered a branch code we had deleted because we had no holdings with
> that location actually shows up in My Millennium as the pickup location
> for holds. Since it wasn't in the branch table it was showing to patrons
> as mdesk rather than the more understandable Circulation Desk. This also
> happened last year with a location that wasn't used on any material but
> turned out to be a "home library" for patron records. Obviously this has
> to do with the way we set up our codes so others may not have codes that
> only do single duty but I wanted to warn people to think about these
> other locations when contemplating removing a code. I still can't figure
> out where the mdesk is coded since it isn't in the Holds Pickup table.
> It could be something that was hardcoded by III way back in '92 when we
> came up.
>
>
>
> I just submitted an enhancement request to include a "note" field in the
> branch codes table where a library could put a note explaining the use
> of the code. This could ensure codes used other than for material
> locations, such as pickup locations or home libraries, are clearly
> identified so they won't be deleted unnecessarily when a search of
> locations in bib/item records shows this code not being used.
>
>
>
> Sue
>
>
>
> Sue Boggs
> Cataloging & Library Technician
> Technical Services
> Library
> University of Puget Sound
> 1500 N. Warner St. #1021
> Tacoma, WA 98416-1021
>
> (253) 879-2667
> boggs at ups dot edu
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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