The Georgetown University Law Library has the INNOPAC system, including
the circulation module.  We create item records for all new volumes
being processed for the collection, including serials. The creation
of these records is done in the Cataloging Dept. (for new titles)
or in the "Collection Processing Unit" for added volumes of serials
and other serial-like material.  A case could be made for creating
such records in one of several places, and we have seriously considered
making it part of the Acquisitions Dept.'s processes.

We have many item types, and it is not always immediately apparent which
one is the appropriate one to choose.  We have therefore chosen to put
this information into a field in the check-in record that results in
an "instruction" label being printed out. Those handling the piece
further down the line are then informed about which item type to use
as well as being reminded to do such things as pulling the earlier ed.
from Reference and moving it to the stacks (changing the label and the
item record location in the process).

We consider it to be useful to create item records for the non-circulating
pieces as well for a number of reasons. For example, if someone brings such
a volume to the circulation desk, the transaction will not go through
because the computer "knows" that that title doesn't circulate. In
addition, we intend to use the inventory module of our system eventually
to tell us what is missing in certain areas of the collection. The
item records will be used for inventory control in addition to
circulation control.  Lastly, we have begun putting a variety of types
of information into the note fields of the item record -- relating
to such things as source of gift, or conservation action taken or
required.  All in all, the item records can be very useful tools.

Janice Snyder Anderson             bitnet: jsanderson@guvax
Assoc. Dir. for Tech. Services     internet: jsanderson@guvax.georgetown.edu
Georgetown Univ. Law Library