Adding collection management notes to Sierra item records

Department

Collection Development

Purpose

The procedures describes how collection development librarians can add useful collection management notes to Sierra records.

Overview

The item record note field is a useful and simple way for collection development librarians to record collection retention decisions or collection management decisions that cannot be acted upon immediately.

Required Knowledge/Skills

Ability to open up Sierra Cataloging, search and display item records.

Safety Issues/Precautions

N/A

Equipment/Supplies

Sierra

Procedure

1. Open Sierra cataloging. Search for and display the item record you need.

2. Position your cursor at the end of the barcode and press the Enter key to create a new empty field.

3. Type x to label the field as a note field. The label is important for future list making and record sorting.

4. Press the tab key to bypass the MARC tags. (If you forget this step and end up with red text where the MARC tags would be, go back over the red text and press the space bar to eliminate the text.)

5. Type your note.

6. Click the Save icon at the top of the screen.

7. Click the Close icon to close the record.

8. If you have totally messed up the item records, exit without saving it and start all over!

9. To reverse a decision (i.e. remove a note):

Standardized phrases:

“Retain in collection. Important \[author\] \[title\] \[illustrator\]”

“Retain in collection. Foundational work.”

“Retain in collection. Lutheran character.”

“Transfer to \[general collection\] \[ASRS\] when removed from \[Stager\] \[reference\]”

“Withdraw if found.”

“Forward to Cataloging for \[reclassification\] \[record enhancement\]”