[DCRM-L] Question: Local notes in OCLC master records

[Linda, Oksana]

Hello,
Clements Library has been using 590 field for all local notes (i.e. Clements Library copy imperfect: t.p. torn, affecting text). We don't use $5.
/Oksana.

Oksana Katerine Linda
University of Michigan
William L. Clements Library
909 South University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1190

From: dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu [mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu] On Behalf Of McCallum, Rebecca
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 1:38 PM
To: dcrm-l at lib.byu.edu
Subject: [DCRM-L] Question: Local notes in OCLC master records

My colleagues and I are currently debating when to add copy-specific local notes and related tracings to an OCLC master record, and when to simply leave them in our local catalog only.

At one end of the spectrum are notes that would definitely be of interest to researchers searching in WorldCat (eg. "500 _ _ $a Wesleyan copy: Heavily annotated and corrected by the author. $5 CtW").

At the other end of the spectrum are notes that would not be as useful to those outside our institution (eg. "500 _ _ $a Wesleyan copy: From the Kallir Family Collection, Given in Honor of Barbara Kallir (Class of 1983). $5 CtW").

But what about cases in between?  We're trying to find a balance point between providing useful information and avoiding cluttering up OCLC records unnecessarily.

Do you have parameters for when to add a copy-specific note to an OCLC master record?  If so, would you be willing to share those guidelines?

Thank you very much.

Rebecca McCallum
Cataloging Librarian
Wesleyan University
252 Church Street
Middletown, CT  06459
(860) 685-3839
rmccallum at wesleyan.edu
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