The IMAP cataloging template requires that you enter a unique control number for each record. We’ll use this convention to create a code for each item:
Year-of-publication[4-digit-year]
- [dash]
Type-of-material[capitalized]
- [dash]
Old-catalog-number[4-digits -- add 0s before the catalog number if it lacks 4 digits]
For example, tape number 1324, published in 1982 would be assigned the control number:
1982-T-1324
[hold over issue from previous iteration of Control Number convention, to be edited 05/07/2008]
Unfortunately, the template doesn’t seem to recognize the distinction between numbers and letters. It interprets “1982.T.0083″ and 1982.CD.0083″ as the same number. To get around this, I’ve added a decimal point and number after the control number’s “old catalog number” element. The number after this last decimal point is related to media type.
Thus:
Audio cassette & DAT: nothing
CD: .1
Reel-to-reels: .2
Multimedia (e.g. CD-ROM, computer diskette): .3
miniDV & VHS: .4
DVD: .5
NOTE: The control number convention for reel-to-reel tapes needs to be examined and revised.
–cmw
