Serials Workflow

Below are the steps involved in managing serials in Polaris:

Tip:
To customize workflow and streamline operations with Polaris Administration settings, see Serials Administration Overview.

  1. Create or import bibliographic records (if they do not already exist) for each serial title held by the library. See Creating MARC Records or Importing Records.
  2. Set up templates for common publication patterns, for example, weekly publications. Once you have set up publication pattern templates, you can select them from a list in the serial holdings record. You can also set up a publication pattern in the serial holdings record for a specific title. See Creating Publication Pattern Templates.
  3. Set up supplier records for each of your serial vendors. If you claim serials, set up the claiming information on the Supplier workform. See Create a new supplier record.
  4. Create a serial holdings record for each serial title, and copy the record for each copy of the title. For example Time Magazine at the Main Street branch would have a different serial holdings record from Time Magazine at West Street branch. Specify a publication pattern for the expected serial issues. If you claim serials issues/parts, and you want to add more claiming intervals than are available on the Supplier record, add more claiming intervals on the Serial Holdings record. See Displaying Serial Titles in the PAC and Enter Claiming Criteria in the Serial Holdings Record.
  5. (Optional) If you claim serials issues/parts, set up claiming to be automatic or manual, and specify the notification method. See Set up claiming notification.
  6. (Optional) If you circulate any serial titles, set up serial item templates. See Creating Serial Item Templates.
  7. (Optional) If you want to track subscription renewals or create purchase orders automatically when subscriptions are renewed, create a subscription record. See Managing Subscriptions.
  8. (Optional) If you want to route serial issues, set up route lists that contain the text, routing information, and names of the individuals to whom you want to route issues. See Creating Route Lists.
  9. As issues/parts are delivered to the library, check in the issues/parts using the Check In workform. See Checking In Serials.
  10. (Optional) Print serials labels and route slips. See Print a Label for a Serial Issue or Part and Printing Route Slips.