Patron records have 5 UDFs and 10 Custom Data Fields – item records have none of these. As a result, many libraries end up doing some weird stuff with the Name of Piece and Temporary Shelf Location. This idea would add 10 or so custom item record fields that libraries can choose how they would like to use.

Ideally, fields would be capable of multiple data types including freetext, Boolean, date, or numeric. In a perfect world, it could also support a drop down list like the UDFs! The fields would also be searchable in the find tool, just like the UDFs are.

There are many potential uses, including:
- Additional categories for statistics – Many libraries are adding EDI information into the catalog, but it’s difficult to record this at the item record level.
- Bulk Cleanup projects – A field to identify which records have already been changed by TS / need to be changed.
- Additional status info – This could be a potential workaround for the libraries that are looking for additional circ statuses to denote the different types of “In-Repair”

- Shelf Location Info/Date – Libraries could indicate which display the item is on or what date the item was put on display, which can be useful for knowing which items to set back to the regular shelf location.
- Donation info – Libraries sometimes need to record information about Monetary donations amounts or Book Plate info for donated materials.

I'm sure there are a ton of other potential uses too, so please share any that I'm not thinking of.