Reference
Item condition flags
What each copy flag means, and how a book's display status is worked out.
A copy in BeeShelf doesn’t have a single status. Instead it carries condition flags, and any combination can be true at once. That way a book can be, say, both damaged and not for loan, which a single status field could never capture. You set these in the copy editor; see Adding by hand and editing copies.
The flags
| Flag | What it means |
|---|---|
| Not for loan | The copy stays in the library. Common for reference books. It can be found in the catalog but not borrowed. |
| Damaged | The copy is damaged. Use it alongside a condition note to record the detail. |
| Lost | The copy can’t be found. A stocktake can set this for you, and clear it if the book turns up. |
| Withdrawn | The copy has been removed from the collection for good. |
| Restricted | Borrowing is limited in some way, for example to certain members or on-site only. |
How display status is worked out
What a reader or a librarian sees, for example “Available” or “On loan,” is worked out from the flags plus whether the copy is currently lent. It’s never stored as a separate field that could drift out of step with reality. Change a flag, and the status updates with it.
The practical upshot: you manage the facts about a copy (it’s damaged, it’s not for loan), and BeeShelf decides what that means for lending. A copy that’s lent and overdue shows as on loan and overdue; a copy marked not for loan shows as not borrowable even though it’s on the shelf.