[Wactclc-alma] WSID numbers in Alma

[Thomas, Kirsti]

Colleen,

There’s no hard and fast rule about where your library (or any library) should store this info.

In the past, some of my libraries stored the state inventory ID number in one of the Internal Note fields, or didn’t store the inventory ID number in Alma at all.

But part of the reason we didn’t use the Inventory Number field was because it didn’t used to exist in Alma. Our Alma wizard Chris Muzzin discovered it sometime in the last year and we’ve decided to start using it to store the state inventory ID number (aka WA inventory tag) for circulating equipment.

There are some caveats to using the Inventory Number field:

  *   The field has a limit of only 20 characters.
  *   You can’t enter data in this field when you create item records from an Excel spreadsheet via an Import Profile. You either have to enter data into the field manually or via an API process.

If your WA State inventory ID numbers are all under 20 characters, then I think it would make sense to store that info in the Inventory Number field. If any of the WA State Inventory ID numbers are longer than 20 characters, then you should probably store that info in one of your Internal Note fields.

Hope this helps


It will be ok!

Kirsti S. Thomas
Library Technical Services Manager
Seattle Colleges
kirsti.thomas at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:kirsti.thomas at seattlecolleges.edu>




From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> On Behalf Of McGaughey, Colleen
Sent: Tuesday, December 8, 2020 8:41 AM
To: 'WACTCLC Alma Discussion' <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>
Subject: [Wactclc-alma] WSID numbers in Alma

Hello all,

I am still working through tidying up our Description field (moving Copy Numbers to the Copy ID field). I have come across some equipment with Washington State ID Numbers that have been entered in the Description field. Where should the WSID be entered - I am thinking Inventory Number, but I have not found a good definition of what that field is used for.

Thanks!

Colleen McGaughey
Clover Park Technical College
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