This list is intended primarily for Milner Library faculty and staff who have questions related to the status of a newly purchased item or how an item appears (or does not appear) in Milner's catalog. Milner Library users who encounter these problems should ask a librarian.
Q: I am trying to find a new acquisition. Is it in cataloging?
A: If the Acquisitions Unit has confirmed its receipt, they probably passed it on to Cataloging. Check Milner's catalog for more clues:
- A record in the catalog indicates the item has left Cataloging and Records Maintenance. If the status indicates "In process", the item is in the Processing Unit.
- If the status indicates it is "Available", it may be on the shelves in Room 109 ready to be picked up by the floor, on the New Books shelf on its appropriate floor, or already shelved in the stacks.
- A new item may be marked "At bindery" in the catalog if it needed binding or some other treatment by the Preservation Division.
- If WorldCat says we have it, but there is no record in the catalog, it is probably in the Processing Unit.
- If there is not a record in the catalog, check with Rapid cataloging.
Q: What happens to an item in Cataloging and Record Maintenance?
- Books, serials, media, etc. are received in Acquisitions and then passed to Cataloging.
- Cataloging divides materials by subject and type, usually after searching.
- Serials, including electronic serials and later volumes of titles already in the catalog, go to the Serials Unit.
- Videos and other non-music, non-book materials go to Becky Bell. Music scores and music sound recordings go to Marie Bosché.
- Books with Library of Congress cataloging are handled by the searching unit.
- Other materials go to the copy catalogers or to faculty catalogers.
- After materials are cataloged, Cataloging sends them on to the Processing Unit after which they are put on the shelves in Room 109 for the floors to pick up. Items that go out to the commercial bindery or are bound or treated in Milner come back to Cataloging to be barcoded before shelving.
Q: Who can help me find a book that is listed in the catalog, but does not yet connect to a call number?
A: Betty McCannon, or any member of Cataloging
Q: Who handles gift materials in Cataloging?
A: Gifts come to Cataloging from Collection Development, where the decision is made as to whether the item is to be retained. Tammie Dean searches and counts most gifts. TMC gifts are searched and counted by Joan Thomas. The items are then passed along to the appropriate cataloger.
Q: What should I do if I find a book, or other item, that appears to have the wrong call number?
A: Bring the item to Corine Kinsolving and she will investigate the problem and route it to the appropriate person or initiate the change, as needed.
Q: What should I do with an item that has lost its call number label, or the label is no longer readable?
A: Bring that item to Corine Kinsolving.
Q: What should I do if I find a catalog record with an error?
A: Print out the record, if possible, and send it to Corine Kinsolving with the problem marked. Or send a note with enough information to identify the record and its problem.
Q: Where should I go with questions about journal or magazine holdings?
A: Ask Sandy Roe.
Q: Who can explain the complicated records for sets and series and other things that are published continuously?
A: Sandy Roe would be happy to help you.
Q: What should I do if I find an error in serials holdings?
A: Please send the information to Sandy Roe.
