How To Suppress Bib and Item Records
A suppressed record is retained in the database. It behaves like
a normal record within Millennium Circulation, but does not appear in the
OPAC, nor is it contributed to Maine InfoNet.
Why Suppress Records?
There are several reasons one might suppress a record:
- Cataloging work is not complete and staff do not wish users to see
an incomplete record in the public access catalog.
- The item is indefinitely unavailable, due to loss or for some other
reason, but there remains a possibility of recovering or replacing
it and using the existing cataloging record.
How To Suppress Records
Item records can be suppressed by changing the value for ICODE2 from "-",
which is the default, to "n" Suppress. Note that the
value "w" Withdrawn has a similar effect.
Bib records may be suppressed by changing the value of Initials from
whatever library-specific value it has to "n" Suppress.
Cautions
Do not suppress a bib record if item records from a library other than
your own are attached to it. Instead, just suppress your own item
record.
If your library is the only one with an item attached to a bib record,
and you have suppressed the item records, also suppress the bib record. A
bib record with no visible locations serves no purpose in the OPAC. Note,
however, that if a cataloger at another library chooses to attach an
item record thereafter, she/he will also unsuppress the bib record in
the process.
