Holding Symbol
The Holding Symbol file contains the library's list of holding symbols and the actions associated with each symbol. Holding symbols are used to generate call numbers and locations when downloading bibliographic records from OCLC, RLIN, and other sources. Innovative sets a trigger in the load tables that specifies which MARC field in downloaded records contains the holding symbol (usually the 049 field).
The Holding Symbol file can be used to:
- Specify the LOCATION code for the record
- Specify a list of MARC fields from which to extract the call number
- Determine a thesaurus for subject heading fields, based on the second indicator value for MARC 6XX fields
- Select specific subject heading fields (for example, for a particular holding library code, the site may want to retain medical subject headings only)
- Set specific fixed-length fields based on the holding library
When a record is downloaded, the system checks the record for the presence of the field designated by the load table trigger. If the field data matches one of the holding symbols in the Holding Symbol file, the action associated with that holding symbol is performed. For example, all downloaded records with the holding symbol SLIB can automatically be assigned the LOCATION code SCI.
If a downloaded record does not contain a holding symbol field or the data in that field does not match a holding symbol in the Holding Symbol file, the first entry in the file dictates the default action. (See the Sample Default Entry below.)
Using Holdings Symbols
If your library has never used holding symbols, contact Innovative to set up this feature.
Data Elements
Each entry in the Holding Symbol file consists of the following elements:
| Element Name | Description | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOLDING SYMBOL | An alphabetic code designating the holding library or collection within a library. This is usually four characters, but can be as long as eleven characters. The system compares this code to the data in the designated field in downloaded records and, if it matches, the action specified in the entry's elements is performed. | ||||
| BRANCH NUMBER | UNUSED Usually set to '0'. | ||||
| BRANCH CODE | LOCATION code to which the Holding Symbol is converted. | ||||
| VALID IND 2 FOR 6XX | Up to five second indicator values for 6xx fields, indicating which 6xx fields should be retained in the downloaded record. Each indicator value is entered without spaces or other punctuation (e.g., 80 means that 6xx fields with either 8 or 0 in the second indicator are retained). If there are multiple holding symbols in the record, the first holding symbol that matches an entry in the Holding Symbol file determines the retention of 6xx fields from the record.
Special values for this element are:
|
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| CALL # PRIOR ORDER | Specifies the order in which MARC Call Number fields in the downloaded record are evaluated for inclusion in the Innovative record. MARC field tags can include subfield specifiers in the form MARCtag/SubfieldList (e.g., 090/ab). A maximum of 31 characters can be entered into this element. The system will convert the data in the first MARC field it encounters from this list.
For example, if the list is: 099,090/ab,050/ab and the record has no 099, but has an 090 field, the data from the 090 field's $a and $b subfields will be used as the call number in the Innovative record. If the record also has an 050 field, it is not used, since the 090 has priority. |
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| PRE STAMP | This feature is primarily used by RLIN sites. The data in this field acts as an "automatic stamp," placed before or after the manual stamp that is keyed in brackets before the 049 field. The ordering of this automatic stamp (before or after the manual stamp) is determined by a trigger that appears in the load tables. For multiple holding symbols, the pre-stamp of the first holding symbol is used for all others in the record. The maximum length of this automatic stamp is twenty-five characters.
Inserting pre-stamps and post-stamps can seriously affect indexing and WebPAC display. If your library has not previously entered pre-stamps and post-stamps, staff should carefully consider the implications of adding these. |
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| POST STAMP | Secondary automatic stamp. See the description of the PRE STAMP element. | ||||
| FIX NUMBER | This feature is primarily used by RLIN sites. Specifies the line number of a fixed-length field in the fixed-length fields file. You can determine the number of a particular fixed length field by viewing the list displayed in the Long names for fixed length fields menu. The specified field is set to the value in the FIX VALUE element. If this feature is not used for a particular entry, set its value to 0. | ||||
| FIX VALUE | Value to which the fixed-length field specified in the FIX NUMBER element is to be set. |
Editing the Holding Symbol File
- In the Select file drop-down menu of the ASAA function, choose Holding Symbol and then Select.
- Double-click the holding symbol you want to edit, or to create a new holding symbol, choose the Append or Insert tool.
- Enter the holding symbol parameters in the Edit window, and choose OK.
- Select the Save tool to save your changes.
For more information on editing this file, see Editing Entries.
Sample Holdings Symbol File Entries
| OCLC Library | |
|---|---|
| HOLDING SYMBOL | LAFR |
| BRANCH NUMBER | 0 |
| BRANCH CODE | archv |
| VALID IND FOR 2ND 6XX | + |
| CALL # PRIOR ORDER | 099,090,082 |
| PRE STAMP | |
| POST STAMP | |
| FIX NUMBER | 0 |
| FIX VALUE | |
| RLIN Library | |
|---|---|
| HOLDING SYMBOL | MOMI |
| BRANCH NUMBER | 0 |
| BRANCH CODE | malw |
| VALID IND FOR 2ND 6XX | 0 |
| CALL # PRIOR ORDER | 950/d,090/ab |
| PRE STAMP | |
| POST STAMP | LAW |
| FIX NUMBER | 0 |
| FIX VALUE | |
| RLIN Library | |
|---|---|
| HOLDING SYMBOL | OOMI |
| BRANCH NUMBER | 0 |
| BRANCH CODE | main |
| VALID IND FOR 2ND 6XX | 0 |
| CALL # PRIOR ORDER | 950/d,090/ab |
| PRE STAMP | |
| POST STAMP | |
| FIX NUMBER | 31 |
| FIX VALUE | a |
| Example of a default entry (See Notes below) |
|
|---|---|
| HOLDING SYMBOL | AAAA |
| BRANCH NUMBER | 0 |
| BRANCH CODE | zzzzz |
| VALID IND FOR 2ND 6XX | b0 |
| CALL # PRIOR ORDER | 050,090,099 |
| PRE STAMP | |
| POST STAMP | |
| FIX NUMBER | 0 |
| FIX VALUE | |