In cataloging items that are non-books, such as tech items like laptops, tablets, or headsets, you will follow very closely the same process you normally would in cataloging a standard book.

First, you will click the plus button at the bottom left of the Items management interface. Then, instead of filling out any fields simply press Search. This will take you to a new and blank Title record which will become your cataloged non-book.

Next, being that there is no method to change the terminology in the system for fields such as Title, Author, or Publisher; you will want to simply use them for what would be the best equivalent. For example, in the Title field, you might type Chromebook or some term that represents your equipment specifically. Feel free to use any other fields to fill out other important related information about your non-book that will help you reference it throughout the program, see it in reports, or to see it in the patron facing interfaces.

I usually suggest adding one title and one copy at first. With this first item, you can do some tests in the program to see how the item looks in reports or other screens where you know you will be looking for and using those items. When adding lots of data and items it always helps to start small, test it out, then go big by adding more data.

The Copy section is where you would want to put information unique to the individual pieces of hardware, such as the serial number. Do make sure NOT to use the serial number of the individual device as it's barcode. You will want to barcode the items just as you would a book.
Another important part of the process to consider is creating new Policies and Mediums to accommodate these new and different items that will be in your collection. With new policies, you will be able to better manage longer or unusual check out times as well as larger replacement costs and other important circulation rules. With new mediums you will be able to more easily run reports, view the new items under the Items management interface, run searches for patron facing viewing, and more easily manipulate the data for these items with utilities.

Set Up

• explanation of title vs copy

  • Records contain general information about the item that is the same for every copy. This includes author, publisher, subjects, Lexile, and more. Each title can have one or more copies.
    Copy Records represent each individual copy of the title in your collection; each copy is assigned an individual barcode number.
    Items may refer to either or both.

• Linking to our info on call numbers and barcodes

  • Barcode Your Collection
  • Barcode Labels
  • Title Records

• our cataloging prefs

• your item limits

• how patrons will search and find these items

Before adding items to Alexandria, there are some decisions you need to make.

Library Structure

If you haven't already, 

Call Numbers

How Search Works

Preferences

Barcodes