Monograph Parts implementation/display/description in Angular catalog

[Carissa Malmgren]

Currently (3.2.3), bib items with monograph parts are described in search results as having so many “copies” available. This makes it sound like a library has 12 copies of Futurama: The Complete Series available (rather than 12 parts of one copy available), and has been confusing for patrons and staff.

Since monograph parts aren’t yet addressed at all in the new Angular catalog, I’m hoping this means we can implement/display/describe them more clearly.

Can bib items with monograph parts be described as having “parts” (instead of “copies”) available?

i.e.:
Current:
Futurama: the complete series (12 of 12 copies available)

Proposed:
Futurama: the complete series (12 of 12 parts available)

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Discussion on the cataloging email list raised the following points/questions:

From sandbej:
My only comment: before a developer starts working on this, we should clarify exactly when the "12 of 12 parts" language kicks in. Is it as soon as there are some monograph parts attached to the record in the Monograph Parts tab? Does at least one item have to associated with a part? Do all items have to be associated with parts? What about when multiple bib records are combined in the Group Formats and Editions search?

My reply:
In NTLC, each library has different ways of breaking bib items into monograph parts for circulation, so for something like Game of Thrones season 1, we've got Parts for each of the ways the season has been split ("Discs 1 & 2", "Discs 3 & 4", "Disc 1", etc.), along with a Part for the whole season ("Discs 1-5") so that it's as clear as possible to anyone checking the OPAC what exactly is included in the DVD case. For us, once a bib record has monograph parts for one library's holdings, it makes sense for everyone's holdings to be described with monograph parts, whether or not the holdings are split up. With that in mind, I would think that the "12 of 12 parts" language would kick in as soon as there is an item associated with a part, but that not all items need to be associated with parts.

I'm also wondering how multiple parts of multiple copies would be described (and identified for description). "12 parts of 1 copy", "13 parts of 5 copies"? Or is that more confusing than it is helpful?

[Meg Stroup (mstroup)]

Can confirm. I'm at a state library, so this issue applies to the bulk of our holdings (code of laws, reports of all kinds from the General Assembly). Example image attached.

"Report of Expenditures from Approved Accounts of the Senate" might not be as popular a title as Carissa's Futurama example (!), but I did want to confirm and show how this also affects a non-public-library.

[Michele Morgan (mmorgan)]

Related: bug 1899405