[MinervaCats] The grinch who stole lists.....

[Hensler, Deborah]

Yes, it's that time again. There are not many slots open in Create
Lists, so I'm reminding everyone who uses lists to empty them when you
have finished using them. 

Please remember to follow the guidelines for naming your lists -- lists
that are named improperly are going to be deleted. Except for Featured
Lists, individual library lists MUST start with the library's 3-letter
code. Not the library name and not the acronym you use in your library
(e.g., we have several "R---- Public Library" in Minerva but only one
"rpl"). 

Those who have attended any of the recent Millennium Create
Lists/Statistics workshops will know about the new Create Lists
information on the Maine InfoNet page, but here's the link for those who
haven't attended a session:
http://www.maine.gov/infonet/minerva/cataloging/howto/lists.htm

This is still a work in progress, and feedback is appreciated. 

Here are the List Guidelines/Etiquette from that page:

1. Use the smallest slot that will suffice for your list.  Don't consume
a 60,000 record slot for a list of 1700 records.  If you don't know how
large a list will be, create it using a large slot, copy it to a smaller
slot, then empty the original file.

2. Always include the following elements in the name of the review file:
library 3-letter abbreviation (always as the first element), a brief
descriptive phrase to identify your review file, and the date of list
creation. Example: APL Paid 09/04/07.
* As an option, you may also want to include the initials of the person
creating the list in the name. This is good for libraries where several
people may work on the same computer but only one person, obviously, is
signed in at one time. Then the list name would be: APL Paid 09/04/07 dh

3. Delete review files you have created as soon as they are no longer
needed. Never delete review files created by another library. If lists
are deleted on a regular basis, there will be less need to ask for list
cleanup and less chance of having a list you are using deleted by Maine
InfoNet staff.

4. Maine InfoNet staff may delete without notice any files older than 35
days, files lacking a library 3-letter abbreviation and files lacking a
date.  If you will need a review file longer than 35 days, use the
Rename function to add a more recent date.  

5. Do not "take ownership" of file slots or files.  All slots are
available on a first-come, first-served basis to any Minerva site or
SOLAR site (depending on the library and system being used).
* There are two exceptions to this rule:
  o Libraries may take ownership of one list large enough to hold their
item records (as long as they are actively using the slot)
  o Libraries must take ownership of their Featured Lists to prevent
accidental moving or deleting of the list.

6. If you need a particularly large slot and it is in use by someone
else, feel free to ask the library involved whether and when the slot
can be freed up.

7. Maine InfoNet staff may move review files to smaller slots from time
to time, and without notice. The review file name will be preserved with
a move date appended. If you name your lists consistently, starting with
the library's 3-letter code, you will always be able to find your list.
Do not depend on the list number to remain the same, and always send
both the list name and number to the support email when asking for help
or for records to be modified or deleted globally.

I will be setting up at least one more Millennium Create
Lists/Statistics workshop in January at the Maine State Library.


Happy Holidays!
Deb

______________________________
Deborah Hensler
Library Systems Specialist, Maine InfoNet
Maine State Library
64 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
207-287-5620 or 1-800-322-8899
207-287-5624 - fax
207-592-1825 - mobile
http://www.maine.gov/infonet/