There are two forms for reporting OPAC problems: a World Wide Web form and a printed form. Some problems may be reported through the World Wide Web if the problem is one that does not require reviewing or reprocessing the bibliographic item(s) concerned. Other problems require that the item(s) be returned to the Cataloging Services Dept. for resolution. The WWW OPAC Problem Report Form is accessible directly from this page, and a an OPAC Problem Report Form in PDF format that can be filled out and printed locally is also available from this page to accompany items that must be sent back to the Cataloging Services Dept. When in doubt about whether or not to send an item back, use the printed form and return the item accompanied by the printed form to the Cataloging Services Dept. (Catalog Management, NHB 28, MRC 154).

If you have questions about reporting OPAC problems, contact Sheila Riley (email: RileyS@sil.si.edu, voice: 202-357-1834).

The WWW OPAC Problem Report Form may be used to report the following problems:

• Subject heading update:
  Use the WWW form to report an obsolete subject heading or typographical error in a subject heading. If there is a question about the appropriateness of a particular subject heading or if additional subject headings ought to be assigned, then return the item accompanied by a printed OPAC Problem Report Form.

• Duplicate Records in SIRIS:
  Duplicate records occur in SIRIS because of 1) multiple retrospective conversion contracts in the early 1980's or 2) variances in main entries between an order record and a record already in SIRIS. However, be careful that a "duplicate" is not a record for a different edition of the same title or that one of the records is not for a RB location. When SIL owns multiple copies of "rare" titles, one may be cataloged on a separate record as Rare and the other kept as a service copy.

• Descriptive information:
  The cataloger's description of the item may include some mistake, oversight, or inaccuracy. Examples: pagination, size, place of publication, publisher, date of publication, accompanying material, and contents. Aside from obvious mistakes and inaccuracies, questions about omissions or the appropriateness of the descriptive information given on the SIRIS bibliographic record should be reported on a printed OPAC Problem Report Form and returned with the item to the Cataloging Services Dept. for review.

• Misspelling in SIRIS Record:
  Generally, a misspelled word or typographical error may be reported on the WWW form; however, if the misspelling occurs in the title or the name of an author, please return the item accompanied by a printed problem report form.

• Index problem:
  Certain errors in data entry or data conversion can result in splitting or scattering of entries in the author, title, or subject indexes in SIRIS. Changes in cataloging rules or insufficient information at the time of cataloging may result in titles written by a single author being split into different areas of the index because of differing forms of the author's name.

• Other:
  Any other problem should be fully explained in the space provided on the WWW form. Please send the item accompanied by a printed OPAC Problem Report Form if there is any doubt about whether the item needs to be reviewed by the Cataloging Services Dept.

Use the World Wide Web to report the problems described above when there is no need to return the item for review or reprocessing (your browser must support e-mail):

Please use the printed OPAC Problem Report Form to report the following problems as well as any of those listed above, if the item must be returned for reprocessing or review. The Cataloging Services Dept. requests that the branch either attach a printout of the MARC display or fill-in the bibliographic data (Call no., Author, Title and SIRIS record no.). This verifies the item/SIRIS record connection and proves useful if the paperwork is separated from the item during shipping and processing.

• Classification refers to the logic of the call number assignment and Call number Label refers to a mistake or inaccuracy in the label:

  Example: Incorrect subject analysis at the time of cataloging leads to the assignment of an incorrect class number (the first part of the call number). Care must be taken here, however, because over time the LC classification schedules may have changed. New titles may not be classed the same as older items on the same subject. SIL does not have resources to redo everything that has changed. If in doubt, send to CSD for review.

  Example: An item was classed as part of a series (in these cases the call number either has a series call number with volume, part, or number data at the end) when the branch wants the item cataloged separately (classed according to its individual subject). Or the reverse. If embarking on "cleanup" of an entire monographic series, discuss first with the CSD Head.

• Entry or Subject Heading:
  Examples: An author may be missing. A series statement may be missing or incorrect. An item may need an additional subject heading. A subject heading may be incorrect.

• Cataloged for wrong location:
  When an item has been cataloged for the wrong location, state the correct location and return the item to the Cataloging Services Dept. for relabelling.

• Cataloged on wrong SIRIS record:
  This can occur in the series versus separate situation, in the variant edition situation, or in the rare versus nonrare situation. (Check Other and explain.)

• Title not in SIRIS for SIL-stamped and labeled item:
  These are most often older Dewey-classed items (if large numbers are found, discuss first with the CSD Head). Occasionally the record for a newly cataloged item will fail to appear in the OPAC because of an OCLC export failure or because a code was not changed in LTLB. (Check Other and explain.)

• Barcode Problem:

  Problems occur for many reasons. An intelligent barcode may not have been placed on its book or was placed on the wrong book or the branch may have more copies than appear on SIRIS. When the SIRIS record shows intelligent barcodes (those within the number range of 39088001000000 and 39088005549999) in a branch's item records, the reality of each item with an intelligent barcode must be verified by branch staff. Otherwise cataloging staff do not know which item record applies and whether to delete the intelligent barcode in SIRIS or to add another copy for the branch.

  To account for branch copies by barcode, print the ITEM record in LTLB. Go to the Copy Holdings record <F5>. For single item copies: type it [space] and the copy number. For copies with multiple items (MHLD): type summ [space] - [space] and the copy number. This displays a summary screen by number. Type the number of the item in question.

The form accessible by clicking on the button below is in PDF format. It can be filled out before printing. Please send items accompanied by this form to: Catalog Management, NHB 28, MRC 154.

LEA
email: libmail@sil.si.edu