Welcome to the first issue of the bimonthly newsletter TechNews Bulletin. We hope to keep you informed as to any changes we may initiate and to offer helpful tips on how to best access information in ATLAS. Remember, we are only a phone call or e-mail away should you have any questions.

DEWEY *REMINDER *DEWEY *REMINDER*DEWEY *

We classify our books according to Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), 21st ed. This latest edition supersedes all previous editions and has been used nationally (and internationally!) since its publication in 1996.  DDC is continuously revised to keep pace with changing times. This means adding numbers for new topics as well as revising current ones to reflect new views or to reduce bias. The 20th edition saw extensive revisions to the 780's (music) which reorganized the old classification system to improve the inadequate numbering scheme. In the 21st edition, there are considerable changes in the 300's and 500's.  We always use the most current edition of DDC so that we remain consistent with other libraries in the United States. In today's shared information environment, there are no local catalogs! This is important for us because so many of our patrons are seasonal and that book they want from "home" can be found more easily if the numbers are the same or similar.  If a new edition does get reclassed, we would like to try something new to help you locate those elusive older editions. We will send an e-mail to Circulation Supervisors when the classification number is changed on a new edition. In that way, you can locate the older edition and decide if you wish to keep it in your collection or withdraw it.

DATABASE CONTROL NUMBER

If we ever call and ask for a book, we will give you both the title and the Database Control Number, (or Control Number, as we call it). This is a title specific number which allows us to request the proper edition of a book. Also, when you send a book to us and use the yellow Technical Services Inquiry form or if you have a question about a title, this is the number that is most helpful to us. In this example from the Bibliographic Services screen, notice that the control number is on the top right.

 Bibliographic type: book             DB Control number:  ABA-0663
 Call number: Mitchell

 Main entry: Mitchell, Margaret, 1900-1949.
 Title: Gone with the wind /

This is the line Boolean displays: System ID no: ABA-0663. It does not display, nor is it accessible from the OPAC.