ITYPES gone wild

Location (Owning Library) Item Type (IType) Patron Type (Ptype) Loan Rule Item Record Patron Record + + = Loan Period Renewals Notices Fine Rate bl*** Itype 7 Ptype 6-8 LR 15 Item Record Patron Record + + = Checking Out an Item – The Equation The Loan Rule Determiner Table 7 Days 2 Renewals 3 Overdues $.05/day Max $2

April, 2012 - “New Items” coded with the following ITypes: No two PALS libraries use the same ITypes for the same combination of materials. 1 Does Not Circulate 2 Default Circ 3 1 Day Loan 7 7 Day Loan 8 14 Day Loan 9 21 Day Loan 10 28 Day Loan New Book - 7 Day New Book - 14 Day 15 New Book - 21 Day 17 Paperback 19 Holiday Book 21 Test Books / JIC Magazine 24 Entertainment Video Non-Fiction Video Compact Disc 28 BOT 39 Large Print 40 DVD 49 Accomp Material 59 ESOL 61 Audio Digital Player 63 Non-Fiction DVD 64 Large Print NF 66 Books on CD NF Graphic Novels 72 New Large Print 76 Book w / CD 86 Senior Collection 102 J Default Circ 107 J 7 Day Loan 108 J 14 Day Loan 114 J New Book 117 J Paperback 123 J Magazine 129 J Book on CD 143 J Games/Puzzles 176 J Book w/ CD 200 Basic Circ-No Holds 201 Item Not Holdable By Anyone 207 Accomp CD-ROM 208 Accomp DVD 210 DVD (Item A) 215 DVD NF (Item A) 216 New NF DVD (Item A) 218 New DVD (Item A) 229 Ent DVD/VHS Misc. (Item B) 231 New DVD (Item B) 234 Assign Bks/Playaways 236 Book on CD (Item D) 240 Books on CD (Item C) 242 DVD Sets (Item B)

April, 2012 ITypes: 1 Does Not Circ 2 Default Circ 7 7 Day Loan 8 14 Day Loan 21 Day Loan New Book - 7 Day New Book - 14 Day New Book - 21 Day 200 Basic Circ-No Holds May, 2012 ITypes: Default Circ New Book - 7 Day New Book - 14 Day New Book - 21 Day

Itype Cleanup Step By Step Step 1: Cleaning up errors Step 2: Simplifying and Streamlining Codes Step 3: Standardizing Material Limits Step 4: Individual Library “Code Reassessments”

PALS Staff: ITypes no longer used ITypes not profiled in Loan Rule Determiner Table Obvious mistakes and typos Step 1: Cleaning up errors Library Staff: Incorrect ITypes assigned within collections Old, outdated ITypes still present Items or collections no longer owned Specialized coding for unique collections Useful Tools and Reports http://pals.suffolk.lib.ny.us/wiki/doku.php?id=itype_location_crosstab_report http://pals.suffolk.lib.ny.us/wiki/doku.php?id=millennium_statistics PAC3 – cleanup reports as announced The Great Database Cleanup Scavenger Hunt!

Step 2: Simplifying and Streamlining Codes Eliminating Duplicate Codes 5 Codes for Software? Consolidating items into uniform code designations All like items in the county should be coded the same way… even if they circulate differently. Music CD’s will all be coded with Itype 26 (Adult) or Itype 126 (J) Each library’s Loan Rule Determiner Table is set to assign the correct loan rule to their Itype 26 Assign Itypes by material not loan rule characteristics All magazines will have a magazine Itype regardless of loan period Loan Period is not determined by Itype, but by assigned Loan Rule Loan Rule based ITypes are being eliminated

Changing Itypes on Existing Items http://www.flickr.com/photos/8229061@N02/3399662473/in/gallery-56115028@N06-72157626323818735/ New Books Display, Salem Church Branch Library, Central Rappahannock Regional Library, VA New Books Itype 7 Itype 13

Changing Itypes on Existing Items bl*** Itype 13 Ptype 6-8 LR 15 Item Record Patron Record + + = After Itype Change 7 Days 2 Renewals 3 Overdues $.05/day Max $2 bl*** Itype 7 Ptype 6-8 LR 15 Item Record Patron Record + + = Before Itype Change 7 Days 2 Renewals 3 Overdues $.05/day Max $2

Step 3: Standardizing Material Limits End Goal: Establish 4 types of items that can be limited in the system. Material Limits will follow the patron as designed – based on their home library’s rules. How many of these items do you want to take financial responsibility for? Limits will be applied uniformly to all items in the four categories, regardless of owning library. “I’m sorry, Mr. Smith, but your library only allows patrons to borrow 5 DVDs at a time.” “We only allow patrons to take 3 Video games, but if this patron absconds with 5, their library will pay for them.” Libraries not wishing to limit the number of items their patrons may borrow do not have to, but their items will be coded the same way as limiting libraries. The PALS Technical Advisory Committee is working to move towards standardized material limits.

Every PALS Library will need to consult with the PALS Staff regarding the coding of their collection. Step 4: Individual Library “Code Reassessments” Once your library schedules their Reassessment: A PALS Staff member will be assigned to your library This contact person will visit your library and meet with key staff to examine every code in your library’s database. All codes will be cleaned up and reviewed. Your library’s setup in the PALS system will be reassessed to determine that the coding suits the needs of your library. The PALS Staff will work together to ensure that coding practices will be applied uniformly system-wide. Schedule your Reassessment today! http://alpha1.suffolk.lib.ny.us:2081/record=g1030226~S84 Access available in-library only.

In the End:

Thoroughly Confused?