[Koha] Data Conversion - Call Numbers

[robweir at alum.drexel.edu]

I am converting data from an old system and need some help on which fields in Koha should be used to store the various components of the existing book call numbers. I'm a computer guy, not the librarian, so forgive me if my terminolgy is off.

Given the following sample call number:

R
220.7
J32c
V.1

I am guessing that the first line 'R' for Refernce Book would be an itemtype defined in the itemtype table and then entered in the biblioitems.itemtype field for each book. The second line of course would be stored in biblioitems.dewey field. I'm stuck on the third line which I think is referred to as the Cutter number. Where should that be stored? I see a biblioitems.subclass field, but it is only char(3) which isn't long enough since cutter numbers are typicaly four characters. I think a few of the call numbers have a dewey line and two lines of cutter numbers. If there are two cutter lines, where should that second cutter line be stored? And then for the last line, would biblioitems.volumeddesc be the correct field?

One more example call number from the old system:

BIOG
MORR H
C.2

I can probably use biblioitems.itemtype for the first line. I'm stuck again on the second line. And I think the last line needs to be stored in the items table since it is specific to each copy of a book with multiple copies. But which field?

I am hoping that once I get the data converted and everything stored in the proper fields, that a client who looks up a book using the OPAC interface will be able to see the entire call number for use in locating the book on the shelves. Will that be the case? Or are my librarians using a  call number system that is incompatible with Koha?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Rob