Checking out items with muliple pieces

• Article Type: General
• Product: Aleph
• Product Version: 20

Description:
When an item is added to our catalog which has multiple pieces our catalogers barcode each part (For example, they would barcode each disk for a DVD with 5 disks).

When the item is checked out, each barcode is also checked out at the same time.

Since the additional barcodes all have the same status as the first one, if the item becomes overdue, each individual barcode gets a fine at the same time (so the 5 disk DVD would get 5 individual fines).

Short of doubling our item statuses (Ie creating a matching status with zero fines) and changing all these items, is there a method in which we can have the fine only apply once?

I understand why we are getting the multiple fines, I am just wondering if their is a workaround for the issue that I can't seem to come up with.

Resolution:
There are two possible solutions:

1) the solution which you mention: having a special item status for the 2nd, 3rd, etc., dvd's in the set, which would not have any fine associated with it;

2) rather than creating a separate item for each DVD, you would have just one item and would barcode only the first dvd (or the container containing all 5 of the DVDs). This item would have a Circulation Note saying "Five DVD set. Check for all five." This note would appear when the item is checked out or returned.

• Article last edited: 10/8/2013