Attaching Items to Existing Bibliographic Records -- Cataloging

Owned by Lloyd Chittenden
Last updated: Sept 14, 2021
4 min read

Table of Contents

In order to add a physical item to an existing bibliographic record, you can search for the item using the ISBN, UPC, or by “bibliographic title”. You can use the Cataloging Standards document to help with cataloging.

Log in to Sierra. Click Catalog on the drop-down Function menu.

Searching for a record

Method 1 - ISBN Search

Select i ISN in the search box from the drop-down list.

Once you scan the ISBN, you may have one or more records to choose to attach your item. You will need to look at the record or records to find the one that you would like to attach your item. Click here to go to the next step.

Top of page

Method 2 - UPC (for movies & video games)

Select j UPC in the search box from the drop-down list.

Once you scan the UPC, you may have one or more records to choose to attach your item. You will need to look at the record or records to find the one that you would like to attach your item. Click here to go to the next step.

Top of page

Method 3 - Title Search

Select t TITLE in the search box from the drop-down list.

Type in the title you are searching for and either press return or click the Search button. Find the title you want from the list. Double click that line to select it and open it on the screen. Click here to go to the next step.

Creating the new item

For each method, you need to select the bib record you want to attach to. You can click on Expand All to see the bib records. Highlight a bib record and click Select, or double click to open up a bib record.

Under the Summary tab, you need to select “i ITEM” in the View menu. Click on the Attach New Item button.

Depending on your settings, you may not see this New Item Options box.
Select Single Item and click OK. If your settings don’t display this box, Single Item is the default.

Pick a template from the list or learn more about how to create record templates. Once you find the record template to help you create your item record, click the Select button.

The information you need to add for each item record will depend on your template. Usually, the most common data needed are the barcode and the call number. Some templates may also prompt for the item price or other information depending on the library’s procedures. Note: the information in some of the other template fields may be filled in. If you think the codes or fields are not correct, you may want to review your template.

For call number, use Marc tag 092 for Dewey call numbers, 090 for LC, and 099 for local call number systems.

The Inputter field can be used to add the initial or name of the person creating the record.

Once the item record is completed, click the Save icon.

Top of page