Float Determiner Table (Admin>Parameters>Circulation - Sierra)

Owned by Tammy Poquette, created
Last updated: Apr 15, 2024
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This documentation explains the Float Determiner table's functionality and data elements.

Table of Contents

Float Determiner Table Overview (MLN1 Libraries Only)

You can contact the Marmot Help Desk for help if you cannot view this table.

View the Float Table by going to Admin, Parameters, Circulation, Float Determiner Table in Sierra.

Table Explanation

The Float Determiner table specifies which types of items float among libraries upon check-in. A floating item is an item that does not belong at one specific library but is shared among many. For example, if the DVD item type is set to float at the Gunnison libraries, any time a DVD owned by Gunnison is checked in at one of the Gunnison locations, it will stay at that location, regardless of which Gunnison library it was checked out from.

If your library has acquired Floating Collections, you would work with Marmot so they can set up the Float Determiner table to specify which types of items float among your library's branches upon check-in.

Functionality

Sierra reads the Float Determiner table from bottom to top. General entries, like those with wildcards, should appear higher in the table than the specific entries. The first entry in the table is set up to apply all Item Locations, Terminal Locations, Item Types, and a Shared value of “N”; that way, if there is no entry that matches the entries lower down in the table when an item is checked in, Sierra will not allow the item to float.

Data Elements

Data Element

Description

Data Element

Description

Item Location

The item locations (from the Location fixed-length field in the item record) to which the entry applies.

Possible values include a location from the Branches table, a wildcard code (?????), or a partial location code followed by an asterisk (for example, be* to represent any location code that starts with be).

Terminal Location

The location code of the branch where the item is checked in. This code must match a location in the Locations Served table. Possible values are a location from the Branches table, a wildcard code (ex: ?????) to represent all locations, or a partial location code followed by an asterisk (ex: gc*).

See more about the locations with the IN LOC.

Item Type

The item types (from the I TYPE fixed-length field in the item record) to which the entry applies.

Possible values are a single value from the Item Types table, a wildcard code to represent all item types (ex: 9999), or a comma-separated list or range of item types (ex: 8-12, 15, 18, 23-30).

Shared

This element indicates whether items whose parameters match the other elements of the entry should float. If set to y, the items float at check in. If set to n, the items do not float.

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