"Piggyback" Barcodes

Piggyback barcode, definition:

A "piggyback" barcode is a barcode with an extra layer of plastic backing, including adhesive, that allows one re-location of the barcode. The top layer of the piggyback barcode can be peeled back from the bottom layer, leaving behind a blank plastic label adhered in the original location. The top layer should then be moved to another location in the volume, away from the plastic strip where it began.

These barcodes are available

• for monographs (black and white only)
• for serials (black and white with a red strip at the top)
• and each of those are available in singles, duplicates and triplicates.

Currently, the MIT Libraries are only using singles, for both serials and monographs. To order Piggyback Barcodes, please contact Maria Rodrigues for serials piggybacks or Derek Clemens for monograph piggybacks.

Using "piggyback" barcodes for Preservation:

When an item is being sent to Preservation Services for rebinding, the process of rebinding can cause some confusion with regard to an item's barcode, particularly because this process sometimes involves removal and replacement of barcodes.

One way of alleviating confusion is to use a "piggyback" barcode in the process.

For Serial/Journals being bound, a serial piggyback barcode may be stuck on the back or the front  of a tied bundle being sent to Preservation Services. The item would receive its "BD" Item Process status when individual issues are combined into one volume, also known as Binding in ALEPH. If this item is not being bound for the first time, its Item Process status would require a person to change it to "BD."

For Monographs, a monograph piggyback barcode should be used.
Staff sending items to Preservation Services should do the following:

• in the Aleph Item record replace the item number of the original barcode with that of the new, piggyback barcode.
• remove or adequately obscure the original barcode, so that it cannot be read.  For example, you can cross out the old barcode number with a sharpie.
• The piggyback barcode should be attached to the Preservation Services Binding Slip, at the bottom, in the section named "Special Instructions."This process allows the item to maintain its BD status (At Bindery) for the duration of its time away from the library.

Once the item has returned from its trip to the Bindery, the piggyback barcode should be relocated to a permanent location, preferably in the back of the volume.

Thus, the item record remains intact, requiring only an Item Process Status change, and a Check In by circulation or local processing to check for any HOLDs that may have been placed while it was away.

written by jjjenkin 4/12/04; last updated 12/8/05, by mr

MIT Libraries: Local Processing Procedures and Documentation
Comments to: Processing Committee -- proc-com@mit.edu