Happy New Year! I would like to start by giving you an update on some of the projects the Bibliographic Services team is working on. These projects have been incorporated into our workflow and have become part of database maintenance.
Serials Call Number training
In November, we started some training sessions on serials call numbers with the purpose of minimizing inconsistencies in the way serials call numbers are formatted, thus improving the patron’s experience when placing holds.
These sessions are exclusive for staff who work with Serials daily, and each session is small enough that people will feel comfortable and have time to ask questions. Stay tuned to an upcoming invitation, if you haven’t received one yet.
Record Management
We continue monitoring fully cataloged records – about 25 per day – randomly selected. Inconsistencies have been corrected by SWAN staff, and in certain instances, we reach out to you.
This led us to analyze series statements and be proactive with the way series are formatted, using the 830 or 800 tags. We have been proactively watching out for series new releases through the Fantastic Fiction website and FictionDB and updating all records with the correct 490/830 or 490/800 tags.
If you notice inconsistencies on series construction, please submit a ticket to help@swanlibraries.net.
Blu-Ray records
There has been an increase in Blu-Ray items getting attached to incorrect records. For instance, Blu-Ray discs being attached to records for 4K Blu-Ray.
- Look at the 300 tag to see if it matches your item in both number and type of discs;
- Pre-cats sometimes have incomplete information. If you are not sure, please submit a ticket and we will sort out each record;
- If you notice items that do not belong to a certain record, please submit a ticket.
Incorrect use of the |z analytic causing hold problems
As a reminder, only serials and multi-volume records should have call numbers with |z. This causes holds to get stuck on the call number with |z in book records. For more information: https://support.swanlibraries.net/news/2020-12/84259.
- Cataloging Corner
Claudia Nickson, Consultant, Bibliographic Services