Weekly Update – November 15, 2011
Enhancements to the software in 2.1
Cataloging module
• Unified copy / call number editor: The default holdings maintenance interface now enables catalogers to edit copies and call numbers on a single screen.
• Call number prefixes and suffixes: While previous releases of Evergreen supported the automatic prepending or appending of prefixes and suffixes to call numbers based on their shelving location, the functionality was limited primarily to printing spine labels. As of 2.1, you also have the option to assign prefixes or suffixes for individual call numbers; these will be displayed in the public catalog and other interfaces, but prefixes in particular do not affect shelf browsing, which is based entirely on the label.
• Bibliographic parts: This feature adds the ability to designate specific “part” roles for the items attached to a given bibliographic record, such that a user can place holds on a specific kind of item without limiting it to an individual item. For example, libraries may assign parts to each DVD in a season of a popular TV show; or to individual volumes of an encyclopedia. This feature also introduces “part holds”.
• Conjoined items: This feature adds the ability to associate a single barcode with multiple bibliographic records, so that the availability of those records is updated based on that copy. For example, libraries may make an electronic reader available for loan that is preloaded with 1000 electronic books; they can add 1000 bibliographic records to the library system and associate them all with a single barcode, so that when the electronic reader is signed out, the availability for all 1000 records changes to “Checked out”.
Further discussion about enhancements will be forthcoming in future Weekly Updates!