networknews

announcements to the library staff

Itemcat3 updates

SAILS will have completed the itemcat3 updates to the database by October 3,2016. This means that starting next Monday when you add items to the database you must be sure to enter an itemcat1 (used for circulation) itemcat2 (used to define audience for the item) and itemcat3 (broad categories for reporting.) We are not going to be doing any verification that these values are being added so if there is a problem next July with reports we won't be aware. This is also something you can't run reports for in Directors Station - it doesn't know about the itemcategory 3. If you are unsure of what categories to use here are the definitions as set up by the MBLC: Name - Description AUDIO - Compact discs, cassettes etc., Playaways for books, etc. BOOKS -BOOKS DAUDIO -Downloadable audio (audiobooks, music) DVIDEO -Downloadable video E-BOOKS -E-books ELECTRONIC - Materials in electronic format (including CD-ROM and video games) MICROFORMS - Materials in microforms (fiche rolls, etc.) MISC - Miscellaneous (ebook readers, museum passes, equipment, puppets, kits, board games, art, etc.) PERIODICAL - Print periodicals, newspapers and other print serials (including scholarly or scientific journals) VIDEO - DVDs/Blu-ray discs/VHS, Playaway View, etc.

Commonwealth Catalog routing slip issue

We learned of a ComCat item from one of our libraries delivered to the CLAMS office because the slip had CLAMS as well as the library name.
Please remember to omit the network's name on the delivery slip as this delays delivery.
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​Don't think of the ComCat processing as much different from the VirtCat processing. They all need the standard delivery slips as well as the "book strap"​ generated from the ComCat staff website.
I know we're starting to get more active with these requests - both lending and borrowing. Don't hesitate to ask us for answers if you have questions. Just email support@sailsinc.org and someone will be more than happy to help. It's also good to let us know if something isn't happening as you think it should. There are still some quirks we're working out and trying to find best practices at the network level to manage some of the differences between the VirtCat and Comcat systems.