There is a new feature in Version 2.8 of Mandarin Oasis that I would like to show you. The program now allows the librarian to create and modify cataloging templates. For bibliographic records this will be especially helpful for any librarians who do original cataloging. Being able to modify the holdings templates will be useful in every library.

 

Here's how it works

 

First, in order to use this feature, to be able to create or modify templates, you need to go to your Setup page. There you'll see a new option at the bottom of the dock on the left called Record Templates.

 

When you have logged in, clicked on the Edit button for your installation, and selected this option, you'll see all the templates that are currently available for your installation. The default selection for each type of record is None. If you leave the default there, you will have the standard templates that come with the program, and you will not have the option to make new templates. If you want to be able to modify and create templates, select one of the templates listed. If the book template is the one you use the most for creating bibliographic records, choose that. For each type of record choose the one that you will use the most.

 

When you next log into Oasis as a librarian and want to add that type of record, you will see your choice as the default, and you'll see the Save as template button at the top of the Basic Editor. Now make the changes that you need to make. At the very least you will probably want to put in your location information, for example, so that you don't need to type it every time. Add or change any other information that you want in your records.  In this holdings template for example, I'm going to put p and usd in the price subfield so I remember that the cost goes in that format. If you need to add or delete any fields or subfields, you can do that in the Advanced Editor. Then click back to the Basic Editor and click Save as Template. You can replace one of the default templates, or you can give your template a unique name.

 

When you look at your Setup page again, you'll see your new template in the list for this type of record. You can set it as the default, or you can delete it here, if it's not what you want.