Cataloging Inventory and "In Lieu of Inventory" Shelf
INTRODUCTION
Until recently, Technical Services catalogers faced with newly arrived books would decide whether to catalog them quickly or send them to what was at one time called "the grill" (because the books were held behind an iron grill in the GLB) and later called "the inventory" (now at the Annex), but which could also be more plainly described as a "backlog." Bibliographers were supposed to choose books from the inventory on a regular basis to be cataloged; some did not, so catalogers made the choices themselves after allowing the books to age a while and hopefully be cataloged by someone at another OCLC member library.
"IN LIEU OF INVENTORY" SHELF
A few years ago, the catalogers accepted a suggestion by the now defunct Cataloging Workflows Task Force and "froze" the inventory--i.e., ruled that no more books should be added to it. The catalogers designated a shelf (the one to the left of the outgoing mail shelf in the "lobby" area of the workroom--it has a sticker saying "inventory" on it) where catalogers can put books that they cannot handle in a reasonable period of time. Obviously, we hope that good cataloging becomes available before we pick up the books again! It is understood that any cataloger may take an item from this shelf and catalog it her/himself. This shelf is actually little used these days but is still there.
If you put an item on this shelf, first charge it to the appropriate pseudopatron number: 392413.
INVENTORY LISTS
The items at the inventory fall into two categories: those added before we began using our Sirsi system (1996) and those since. The items added since Sirsi are listed in reports which are produced monthly by Sirsi. There is one report for each fund code, and another report for items which lack fund codes.
Items added before Sirsi are not listed anywhere. Some catalogers still have printouts made when we were using our pre-Sirsi system, NOTIS. (Items acquired this long ago are generally not a high priority for cataloging; anything that we actually need was probably cataloged years ago.)
Of course, we can determine from the record in Acorn that a particular item is in the inventory. These items show a current location of "ASK-STAFF" and it is shown more explicitly in the "checkout" information that they are in the inventory.
REQUESTING ITEMS FROM THE INVENTORY FOR CATALOGING
We are still requesting books from the inventory for cataloging when they are needed and/or when we have time to catalog some.
If you want to request an item (or items) from the inventory for cataloging, send an email to
library.annex@vanderbilt.edu
and specify the item(s) you want by barcode number. If you ask for multiple items, give the barcode numbers in order. Use an appropriate subject line, e.g., "Request from cataloger."
P. Wilson 2/1/2006