Streamer FAQs
Streamer FAQs
What kind of information do streamers provide?
Where do the streamers end up?
What if we run low or out of a particular streamer?
What do the printed streamers mean?
What do the streamers without an imprint mean?
A streamer is a pre-cut quarter sheet of paper, usually imprinted, which is placed with an item when specific information concerning that item is needed. Streamers are often, though not always,
a physical marker for information included in the electronic item record.
What kind of information do streamers provide?
Streamers can direct an item to a specific location, tell about the physical condition of an item, specify circulation status, note that there are accompanying materials with the item, or note
that an item is a part of a larger group, amongst other things. See below for specific streamers.
Anyone who needs to convey information about an item can use a streamer. For the most part, Collection Services (monographs) and Acquisitions (serials) are the primary users of streamers.
Streamers are in boxes in the supply room. You may want to create a box of your own with a supply of streamers you use frequently.
After the streamer has conveyed its information, it is pulled from the item and eventually returned to its box in the supply room. Since most streamers are reused, it is important that if you write anything on the streamer you do so in pencil.
What if we run low or out of a particular streamer?
If you notice the box getting low, check first with Physical Processing to see if they have a supply since many streamers are removed by that unit. If they don't have a supply, please tell the person responsible for supply ordering that a particular streamer needs to be reordered.
Yes, but if you do so, please do it in pencil so the streamer may be reused.
What do the printed streamers mean?
'Action' streamers: Not acutally imprinted with this title, these white streamers instead begin with To: and From: lines. They offer you several preprinted messages such as: For your information; To be catalogued; Not charged. There is also a section for comments. These streamers are often useful when items are sent from one branch to another with instructions or information not found on a preprinted streamer.
ADC/ACV: Added copy/added volume streamers tell Cataloging that the item is part of a set or series, and the item needs to be added to the bibliographic record for that set or series. These streamers are considered useful, but not necessary, by Cataloging.
Add to the Collection: Usually used with approval books and gifts, these streamers indicate that a patron has requested that selectors be sure to add this item to the holdings.
Biblio: A directional streamer which sends the item to the group of bibliographies located in room 202 of Ellis Library.
Bindery Information: These streamers, primarily used by Physical Processing, indicate to the Bindery what action needs to be taken regarding the item.
Bookplate: Tells Physical Processing that the item needs a bookplate. The specific text for the bookplate is located in the item record.
Handle with Care/no Xerox/Brittle Books: Reminds all who handle this item that it is in delicate condition or easily damaged.
Closed Shelf: A directional streamer which sends the item to the closed shelf in Ellis Library. Also serves to remind staff to double check that the location in the electronic item record is set to closed so that the item may not be checked out by patrons.
Caution: Computer Disk Enclosed: Once primarily serving as a warning to keep the enclosed disk away from magnetic source this streamer now tells Cataloging that there is a disk that needs to be catalogued and added to the item record.
Classed Together: Added by serials checkin to items arriving on standing order, this tells Acquisitions and/or Cataloging that no matter what call number is indicated by the bibliographic record for the item, we instead use the call number given on the accompanying sticker.
Classed Separately: Added by serials checkin to items arriving on standing order, this tells Aquisitions and/or Cataloging to use the call number provided in the bibliographic record for the item.
Comic: A directional streamer sending the item to the Comic collection in Ellis Library.
CPRR: A directional streamer sending the item to the Current Periodicals Reading Room. Used for journal issues.
Delta: A directional streamer sending the item to the (off-site) Delta collection.
Doc Ref: A directional streamer sending the item to Document Reference in Ellis Library.
ENGR/ENGR LIB: A directional streamer sending the item to the Engineering Library.
Gaylord: A directional streamer sending the item to an off-site facility.
GEOL/GEOL LIB: A directional streamer sending the item to the Geology Library.
JOUR/JOUR LIB: A directional streamer sending the item to the Journalism Library.
JUVENILE: A directional streamer marking the item as part of the juvenile collection in Ellis Library.
Large: A directional streamer sending the item to the shelves in room 202 of Ellis Library, which are designed to hold items 40-50 cm tall.
LIB SCI: An obsolete location; these streamers may be used for miscellaneous purposes. Simply cross out the LIB SCI designation and write, in pencil, what is needed.
MATH/MATH LIB: A directional streamer sending the item to the Math Library.
MED LIB: A directional streamer sendin gthe item to the Health Sciences Library. Rarely used.
MONO SET: Once Indicated to Cataloging that the item is part or all of a monographic set, but no longer necessary. These streamers may be used for miscellaneous purposes. Simply cross out the imprint and write, in pencil, what is needed.
Non-Circulating: A reminder to double check that the circulation status in the item record is set appropriately so that the item may not be checked out.
Notify: A request that a patron be contacted when a aparticular item is ready to be checked out. This patron has the first opportunity to check out the item.
Preservation Department Materials Disposition: There are two kinds of thes streamers: for Materials in the Collection and for Materials not in the Collection. These streamers are used to inform Physical Processing that some action needs to be taken regarding the item. These actions include: binding, repairs, move the item to the closed shleves, etc. Each streamer has the options printed on it. Also use these streamers when loose errata pages accompany the item. Write (in pencil) "Errata" at the top of the streamer.
Rare: A directional streamer sending the item to the Rare Books collection within Special Collections. Also serves as a notice to Physical Processing to treat the book differently than other items.
RARE-REF: A directional streamer for reference materials in the main Special Collections room.
REF: A directional streamer sending the item to the Reference shelves in Ellis Library.
Replacement: An indicator that the item is a replacement for an item already in the collection. Access Services notifies Catalog Management of replacements purchased directly by the patron and purchased by Acquisitions, so this streamer serves no useful purpose for the Catalog Department and may be reused for miscellaneous purposes.
Reserve: A directional streamer sending the item to the Reserve Desk in Ellis Library.
Reserve/Process Rush: Both directs the item to the Reserve Desk in Ellis Library and asks Cataloging and/or Physical Processing to rush the item through their processes.
Rush (gold): Asks Acquisitions, Cataloging, and/or Physical Processing to rush the item through their processes for a particular reason (often so that a patron may have access to the item).
Rush (red): Indicates to Cataloging that the item needs to be cataloged immediately. The desired turn-around time to get the item through Technical Services is 24 hours.
Sample Issue: Informs the staff that the item is only a sample and gives directions to the selectors on what to do if they decide to order the title.
Seminar Room: A directional streamer sending the item to one of the seminar rooms in Ellis Library, and an indicator to Cataloging that the person who processes these items needs to be contacted.
Send to Bindery: Indicates to Physical Processing that the item needs to be sent out to be bound, but does not provide the level of detail given by the Bindery Information streamer.
SPEC-MU: A directional streamer sending the item to the Special Collections area in Ellis Library that holds items with a University of Missouri connection.
SPEC-REF: A directional streamer for reference materials in Special Collections, mostly related to microforms.
STO Monograph: Once used to distinguish a standing order monograph from a standing order serial, this streamer is no longer needed and may be used for miscellaneous purposes.
UMLD: A directional Streamer sending the item to the University of Missouri Library Depository.
VET LIB: A directional streamer sending the item to the Veterinary Library. Rarely used.
Woldwide: Indicates that the item is part of the Worldwide Art series. This streamer is not needed by Cataloging.
WEINBERG: A directional streamer for a collection in the Journalism Library.
XLg: A directional streamer sending the item to the shelves in room 202 of Ellis Library which are designed to hold items 51-81 cm tall.
What do the streamers without an imprint mean?
Green and Salmon colored streamers, once used to signal Cataloging about a problem in the bibliographic record (green) that kept the item from going through the FastCat routine, or that the item was part of a set (salmon), are no longer needed by Cataloging. These streamers may be reused for miscellaneous purposes.