Technews Bulletin
February 2000
ISSUE #5
THE KITS ARE COMING!
THE KITS ARE COMING!
Ah, those kits–those wonderful,
full of tapes and books, children's kits! These are no longer just
in plastic bags, either. These new kits, which include a book and
corresponding audiocassette, are packaged in more durable
plastic-coated containers with velcro fasteners, and fit on shelves
just like books (at least, that's the theory!). As eager as we are
to get these out to you, there are many steps involved in getting a
new format into the cataloged collection. Staff from Collection
Development, Information Technology, Administration, and Technical
Services collaborate to set policy, update documentation, prepare
ATLAS, and establish procedures for cataloging, processing, and
circulating the material. As an example, this is information that
Jeanne Borowski needs in order to edit ATLAS policy files:
-
mnemonic (abbreviation) for the
new material code
-
loan period
-
number of renewals allowed
-
amount of overdue fine
-
maximum overdue fine (for that
material code)
-
maximum number of that material
type that can be checked out
-
grace period
-
price of item (default
replacement)
-
processing fee
-
and any associated policy issues
(e.g., can both children and adults check out this material?)
The above information is then entered
for each of our patron classifications including adult,
juvenile, staff, etc. Since there are 9 patron
classifications and 9 parameters in the Policy File, that
makes 81 screens that require editing! And that's not all!
Mobile has their own separate policy ID so she has to do another 81 screens for them. Add that all up and you get 162 screens to edit
for 1 new material code!
Here I am, almost out of room (and
out of breath) and I haven't even touched on cataloging and
processing! Very briefly: we decide how to describe the material
which then determines the bibliographic format (kit implies that the
book and audiocassette are "equal partners"). Local policy
and procedures are established for classification, subject access,
and special notes or other descriptive bibliographic information.
Physical processing decisions, such as labeling, take into
consideration how the material will be shelved and circulated. These
kits were a processing challenge, since they need all the usual
processing, plus labels to identify them as part of a kit.
As you can see, it's not easy adding
the kits to the collection. Once the ATLAS manual is revised and the
PPMs are approved, the new format is ready for cataloging and
processing. So, go ahead and give a cheer–the new kits are
almost here!
This newsletter editor would appreciate your suggestions for
future issues.
Please send them to Sue Bermann, Technical Services (or e-mail bermanns@pbclibrary.org)
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