[Koha] Item Types, Collection Codes and Other Mysteries : a guide for newbies.

[Joann Ransom]

This is my understanding of the use of Item Types and CCodes based on 
the emails and list discussion. If my understanding is wrong - please 
correct it. If I have it clear then I think this would be useful for the 
Koha 3.0 Manual (certainly would have helped me!) Would love someone to 
please add in the marc fields where you would enter the information 
which will display in these fields(are we heading into mapping territory 
now?) 


BIBLIO LEVEL INFORMATION

Search results display Biblio level info; which can  include:

 * Format (book, DVD, video cassette)

* Audience (children, young adult, adult)

* Content (bibliography)

* Material Type (using XLST search will display wee icons.)

ITEM LEVEL INFORMATION 

The holdings table displays Item level info, which can include:

 * Item Types

* CCodes

* Shelving Location

* Call Number

 ADVANCED SEARCH

The Advanced Search interface displays either Item Types (with their 
associated icons) OR Collection Codes (with their associated icons). You 
cannot set both as Advanced Search options, although there is general 
agreement that this would be a cool enhancement.

 NOTES ON ITEM TYPES

*set circulation policy
* you must have item types
* you don't have to have CCodes
* can be used to define collections
* can be OPAC advanced search points

 
NOTES ON CCODESs

* have no relationship to circulation policy
* any number of CCodes can have the same the Item Type
* are optional
* are used to define collections
* can be OPAC advanced search points

 NOTES ON CALL NUMBER
Shows an items shelf position, can include alpha and numeric characters.

 
NOTES ON SHELVING LOCATION
Denotes a physical location ie a floor or building. (Not sure if this 
displays in OPAC or not.)

 
GENERAL RULE OF THUMB

*If you don't have to have CCodes to distinguish between Item Types and 
Collection Codes, then don't -- just use Item Types.*

 

An example of when you would need CCodes, is where you have a policy 
which says borrowers may have no more than 10 AV items on loan at a 
time, but they may be taken from arange of different collections. So 
Item Type is set as AV and a bunch of CCodes are created: DVD, JDVD, 
Video, JVideo, CDROM, Audio Book on Tape, Teen Audio Book on CD, etc. A 
borrow a total of 10 AV materials from any of the CCodes related to Item 
Type=AV.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.katipo.co.nz/pipermail/koha/attachments/20090316/702cdfb3/attachment.htm