Control Numbers

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

To do

Check out Harvard or other records of the Dylan Thomas tape, to see how they handle the various authors.

Check out OCLC for records for duplicates.

Also: catalog the next tape under 1403, and then skip to 1410.