[IUG] barcoding non-circulating items

[Charlene Martha Kellsey <Charlene dot Kellsey at Colorado dot EDU>]

Sarah,
We create an item record for every individual volume and barcode each one
for several reasons, in addition to inventory (and we do not have the
inventory module). When we had to begin moving large numbers of serial and
old reference volumes to an offsite storage facility, each item had to have
an item record or the patron could not request the exact volume they wanted.
We had to mount a major project to create item records and barcode all of
the older volumes that hadn't previously been done when we migrated to III.
Also, for some of our reference items that we periodically get new editions
of, the older edition is sent to the stacks. If it already had an item
record and barcode done when it was first processed, then it is just a
matter of changing the item location code and removing the reference spine
sticker.

These considerations might not be as important if your collection is not as
huge as ours is, or you don't have to worry about offsite storage, but just
thought I would contribute some additional reasons. In the end I guess you
have to weigh the cost-benefit for your particular situation.

Charlene Kellsey
Associate Professor
Faculty Director, Acquisitions Dept.
Norlin Library
184 UCB
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0184
303-492-1183
charlene dot kellsey at colorado dot edu