Vendor Information Port (VIP) HelperVendor Information Port (VIP) HelperThe Vendor Information Port (VIP) helper searches the library catalog and a vendor catalog simultaneously by ISBN for title records, adds brief title records, and allows you to initiate the creation of orderlines for titles. This helper is available in the order wizards if the library has purchased access to the helper.
The VIP helper displays search results from the library’s catalog and the vendor’s catalog in the same window so you can easily determine if the title is already in the library catalog, and/or if the title is currently available from the selected vendor. If the library catalog already contains matching title records, you can select a particular title and view the bibliographic information, call number and item information, and open orders information (if the title is already on order). If the vendor catalog contains a matching title record, you can view the availability, pricing, and discount information.
If the library catalog does not contain a matching title record but the vendor catalog does, the VIP helper has an option to add a temporary title record. You can select which catalog format to use for the brief title record (such as MARC or UNIMARC). Information from the vendor catalog record (such as ISBN, title, author, and publication information) automatically populates the bibliographic fields of the brief title record. You can edit the imported information as needed. After saving the brief title record, you can create an orderline for the title.
If you want to search for the same title in another vendor’s catalog, you can simply select another vendor from the VIP Vendors list field and start the search again. The ISBN does not need to be re-entered for the new search. This ability to quickly switch vendors allows you to compare material availability and pricing among vendors.
You can set a default vendor in the VIP helper properties so you can always begin a title record search on a preferred vendor’s Web service.
The VIP Vendor policies must be defined by the Vendor Information Port wizard before the VIP helper can be used to connect to a vendor’s ordering service. See Vendor Information Port Wizard for information.
The defaults set for the catalog format, call number library, and class scheme in the Add Temporary Title helper are the same defaults used for the VIP helper.
To search for title records, add temporary title records, and/or create an orderline for a title
| 1 | Click the VIP helper. |
| 2 | In the ISBN field, type or paste the ISBN of the title for which you want to search. |
| 3 | In the VIP Vendor list, select the vendor whose catalog you want to search. |
| 4 | Click Search. |
If no matching title records are found in your library’s catalog, the Item not found in catalog message displays below the Format field.
If any matching title records are found in your library’s catalog, the record or records display below the Format field. If multiple title records were found, select a title in the results list to view bibliographic information, call number and item information, and open orders information (if the title is already on order.)
If a matching title record is found in the vendor’s catalog, the title, author, publisher, and pricing information display below the area that displays the title record in your library’s catalog (if a title record exists in your library).
| 5 | Do one of the following: |
| • | If you want to search for the title again in a different vendor’s catalog, select the vendor from the VIP Vendor list, and click Search. |
| • | If your library catalog does not contain the title, but the vendor catalog does, create a brief title record by selecting the desired catalog format for the record from the Format list, and clicking Add Temporary Title. Edit the title information, and click Save to create the title record. |
To create an orderline for the title, click Order This Title. To return to the order wizard without creating an orderline, click Close.
| • | If your library catalog and the vendor catalog both contain the title, click Order This Title to create an orderline for the title. |
| 6 | Continue to create the orderline as you normally do in the order wizard. |
Related topics
Vendor Information Port (VIP) Helper Properties
Vendor Information Port Wizard
© 2006, 2014 SirsiDynix