[Koha] [BUG] barcode mandatory or not ?

[Stephen Hedges]

Paul asks:

> The question is : what is the good behaviour ?
> * barcode IS mandatory => manage this in checker, 
> the tools that checks 
> that your DB is correctly parametered.
> * barcode IS NOT mandatory => change non-MARC 
> part of Koha to accept 
> empty barcodes.

At NPL, we have in the past used our catalog to store pieces of information 
that were not physical items, like names and addresses of local social 
agencies, and websites (before we had Koha).  That would allow people to search 
for something like "poverty" and get hits not only on books about poverty, but 
websites about poverty and the names of local agencies that deal with poverty.

If the catalog is used to store information that does not relate to a physical 
item, then the barcode should not be mandatory.  However, I think the templates 
for adding and editing items should then be set to return a warning, in case 
someone mistakenly enters a physical item without a barcode.

Stephen Hedges
Nelsonville Public Library