local call numbers in retro

[Paula Neale <hickman3@TV19.KCPT.ORG>]

I am losing my internet account in 2 days so will have to temporarily sign
off this list.  Before I go I have a couple of queries.
We are automating with Mandarin.  Our retro is being done one school at a
time by a group of ladies who were hired to do this using Bibliophile.  I am
the next school scheduled (and the first elementary to be converted using
this method).  I am now trying to get my shelf list cards ready and here is
what I would like to know.  The answers may be in the Mandarin Manual but I
don't have time to find them nor do I know enough yet to feel comfortable
with the manual.

We have a number of sections where books are shelved separately from their
normal classification.  These include Caldecott, Newbery, some Easy
nonfiction such as the New True books, a section of primers for first grade,
etc.  I have always just used an alphabetic designator such as Caldecott
above the first line of the call number to indicate special shelving.  Which
field of the Marc Record can be used for this (and which sub-field)?  If our
ladies get a hit on Bibliophile, can they then go into the Marc record and
add this local designator?

In addition we have a number of special collections which are not
necessarily shelved separately but which should be able to be traced through
the OPAC.  Examples are Missouri Authors, The Multicultural Collection, the
Drug-Alcohol Curriculum, etc.  Right now we keep track of these (or try to)
through separate data bases.  I would like to be able to do in on the OPAC.
Is there a standard field which can be used.  It is not exactly an added
entry--more like some kind of note, but it should be a field which can be
indexed.

I understand that once my MARC records are created, they will be spindled
into a Mandarin record, and that while I can then edit that record, the MARC
record will not be modified.  By the same token if I edit the MARC record,
the Mandarin record will not be changed once it has been "splinded".  You
can probably tell that I am not too clear on how all this works yet.  But at
any rate I would like to have the records as accurate and useful for our
patrons as possible the first time around.  So please forward any advice you
have to me at the following address.

russneale@aol.com

Thanks

--
Paula Neale                             ||  Ingels Elementary School
Library Media Specialist                ||  11600 Food Lane
hickman3@TV19.KCPT.ORG                  ||  Kansas City, MO  64134
(816) 761-4343