Clarification on Adding Multiple Copies and Barcode Functionality
Talk Welcome to LibraryThing!
Join LibraryThing to post.
1NAPSLibrary
I am currently using the TinyCat 30-day trial for our academic library and would appreciate some clarification regarding copy management and barcode functionality.
At present, when I edit a book record, I can see a “Number of Copies” field under Physical Summary. However, I do not see an option to add individual copies or assign unique barcodes to each physical copy of the same title and ISBN.
Could you please clarify:
Is the ability to add individual copies with unique barcodes restricted during the trial period?
If so, which subscription plan enables full circulation and barcode management?
What is the correct step-by-step process to add multiple copies (same title and ISBN) with separate barcodes once circulation is enabled?
Additionally, we plan to implement a sequential barcode system starting from 100001 onward. Is there a recommended format or best practice within TinyCat for setting up custom sequential barcodes?
I would appreciate clear guidance so we can configure our library system correctly from the beginning.
At present, when I edit a book record, I can see a “Number of Copies” field under Physical Summary. However, I do not see an option to add individual copies or assign unique barcodes to each physical copy of the same title and ISBN.
Could you please clarify:
Is the ability to add individual copies with unique barcodes restricted during the trial period?
If so, which subscription plan enables full circulation and barcode management?
What is the correct step-by-step process to add multiple copies (same title and ISBN) with separate barcodes once circulation is enabled?
Additionally, we plan to implement a sequential barcode system starting from 100001 onward. Is there a recommended format or best practice within TinyCat for setting up custom sequential barcodes?
I would appreciate clear guidance so we can configure our library system correctly from the beginning.
2MarthaJeanne
If you want multiple copies to be able to be borrowed as separate items, you have to enter each copy separately and give each its own barcode.
You enter copy 1 and assign it a barcode. Then you enter copy 2 and assign it a barcode.
The number of copies field only registers a number. it does nothing else. It does not increase any counts. It does not allow copying an entry. It is a relic of the earliest days of LT before circulation, TinyCat, barcodes ...
You enter copy 1 and assign it a barcode. Then you enter copy 2 and assign it a barcode.
The number of copies field only registers a number. it does nothing else. It does not increase any counts. It does not allow copying an entry. It is a relic of the earliest days of LT before circulation, TinyCat, barcodes ...
3LeslieWx
In my LT library there are several examples of me having either (1) entered multiple copies of a book separately, e.g. the bird book in the truck vs. the copy in the car vs. the copy in the house or (2) entered multiple years of what is technically an annual periodical because the relevant interest group views each as different books*, e.g. 1967 ARRL Radio Amateur's Handbook, 1970 ARRL Radio Amateur's Handbook, 1972 ARRL Radio Amateur's Handbook, 1973 ARRL Radio Amateur's Handbook.
My suggestion to @NAPSLibrary would be this:
• Enter the first copy, assign its barcode, save it, and then re-open the page in "Edit Book" mode
• Open a new LT tab; navigate to Add Books; scroll down and click the "add manually" link
• Duplicate that resulting browser tab enough times to have 1 manual-addition tab for each remaining copy
• Go back to your entered book and start at the top field on the page; step through each field, copying from the entered book and pasting into the same slot on each of the "add new" pages for the remaining copies EXCEPT when you get to the barcode field remember to enter a unique number.
(This basic concept is also useful when you are cataloging 14 physical copies of an inch-thick annual handbook from 13 different years ...)
My suggestion to @NAPSLibrary would be this:
• Enter the first copy, assign its barcode, save it, and then re-open the page in "Edit Book" mode
• Open a new LT tab; navigate to Add Books; scroll down and click the "add manually" link
• Duplicate that resulting browser tab enough times to have 1 manual-addition tab for each remaining copy
• Go back to your entered book and start at the top field on the page; step through each field, copying from the entered book and pasting into the same slot on each of the "add new" pages for the remaining copies EXCEPT when you get to the barcode field remember to enter a unique number.
(This basic concept is also useful when you are cataloging 14 physical copies of an inch-thick annual handbook from 13 different years ...)
4ZephCraven
Hi @NAPSLibrary, and thanks everyone for your tips!
No TinyCat features are restricted during the trial period or by tier/account type (besides sending automated reminder emails, which everyone can do except for Personal accounts — since personal accounts shouldn't need to send automated email reminders).
As others here have said, to add a duplicate copy, simply add the book again however you'd like. Like LeslieWx says, you can add them manually, you can also search-add them via the Add Books page, or import them. Depending on the data you care about, your quickest option may indeed be to import the duplicate items on a spreadsheet with a unique row for each copy. Then just be sure to select options that import duplicate items in the file. Please review our Help page on the various ways you can add books (or other media) to your LibraryThing account: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/HelpThing:Addbooks.
As MarthaJeanne suggests, a unique barcode can be particularly useful on duplicate items to help you differentiate them in transactions. It seems you are already looking to add barcodes, so that works well. There's a very high number at which barcodes max out (I think it's in the millions) so I do recommend starting with a lower number than 100001 if you plan to increase additional barcodes by 1.
You can investigate your Barcode Settings in LibraryThing: https://www.librarything.com/settings/barcodes, which allows you to automatically apply barcode numbers to items without barcodes, for whichever collection/s you've selected and saved in the settings. Just keep in mind: if you automatically apply barcode numbers to your records in LibraryThing from the Barcode Settings page, barcode numbers will be assigned in the order that you cataloged your library.
We also sell barcode stickers you can customize in the LibraryThing Store if you need to acquire any: https://www.librarything.com/more/store.
Throughout this process, you may find your Work Duplicates page a useful ally in identifying how many copies you have of each item, etc. To get there, simply go to Home > Charts & Graphs > scroll down till you see the Work Duplicates link near the bottom left.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
No TinyCat features are restricted during the trial period or by tier/account type (besides sending automated reminder emails, which everyone can do except for Personal accounts — since personal accounts shouldn't need to send automated email reminders).
As others here have said, to add a duplicate copy, simply add the book again however you'd like. Like LeslieWx says, you can add them manually, you can also search-add them via the Add Books page, or import them. Depending on the data you care about, your quickest option may indeed be to import the duplicate items on a spreadsheet with a unique row for each copy. Then just be sure to select options that import duplicate items in the file. Please review our Help page on the various ways you can add books (or other media) to your LibraryThing account: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/HelpThing:Addbooks.
As MarthaJeanne suggests, a unique barcode can be particularly useful on duplicate items to help you differentiate them in transactions. It seems you are already looking to add barcodes, so that works well. There's a very high number at which barcodes max out (I think it's in the millions) so I do recommend starting with a lower number than 100001 if you plan to increase additional barcodes by 1.
You can investigate your Barcode Settings in LibraryThing: https://www.librarything.com/settings/barcodes, which allows you to automatically apply barcode numbers to items without barcodes, for whichever collection/s you've selected and saved in the settings. Just keep in mind: if you automatically apply barcode numbers to your records in LibraryThing from the Barcode Settings page, barcode numbers will be assigned in the order that you cataloged your library.
We also sell barcode stickers you can customize in the LibraryThing Store if you need to acquire any: https://www.librarything.com/more/store.
Throughout this process, you may find your Work Duplicates page a useful ally in identifying how many copies you have of each item, etc. To get there, simply go to Home > Charts & Graphs > scroll down till you see the Work Duplicates link near the bottom left.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
