Home → Item Cataloging and Holdings Management → The Holdings Editor → Item Attribute Definitions
Last Updated 01/07/2026
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Attributes tell Evergreen how an item should behave, based on circulation and hold policies, and where an item should be shelved. Attributes are divided into columns based on categories.
The first column of Item Attributes helps to identify the item and track its history.
| Attribute | Definition | Editable? |
|---|---|---|
| Item Status | The item's current status. This may reflect the result of a transaction, and can be changed manually. However, it should never be changed from a status that would result in an indefinitely open transaction. | Yes, in most cases. |
| Barcode | This is a unique identifier that is set in the Holdings Editor along with the call number. | Can only be changed in the Holdings Editor, not the attributes field. |
| Creation Date | This is the date that the holding was first created for a library. This may be set as the result of an acquisitions order, Z39.50 import, MARC file upload, or manual holdings addition. | Set automatically and cannot be changed once set. |
| Active Date | This is set automatically when the Item Status is first changed from On Order or In Process to any other status. This may happen as the result of a manual status change or an item being checked-in and made Available. It does not always match the Creation Date. | Set automatically and cannot be changed once set. |
| Creator | This is the username of the staff account that a cataloger was logged into when the holdings record was created using any of the methods listed above. | Set automatically and cannot be changed once set. |
| Last Edit Date | This field is set for the first time when the the item record is saved. Re-set every subsequent time the record is saved. | Cannot be changed manually. |
| Last Editor | This is the username of the staff account that a cataloger was logged into when any aspect of the holdings record was changed and saved. Re-set every subsequent time the record is saved. | Cannot be changed manually. |
The attributes in Column 2 all provide data necessary for helping staff and patrons locate the book, both within an organizational structure and on the shelf.
| Attribute | Definition | Editable? |
|---|---|---|
| Shelving Location | Where the item can be found on the shelf in the library. Shelving Locations can influence the choice of circulation policy. | Yes. |
| Circulating Library | This is the library where the item is currenty shelved. It may not match the Owning Library. If Floating is activated, this field will update based on where the item is checked in. | Yes. |
| Owning Library | This is the library that owns the item. | Yes. |
| Item Number on Volume | If you have multiple copies and label them accordingly, those numbers will show up here. | Yes. |
| Call Number Label Classification | The classification scheme you set with the call number will be listed here. | Yes. |
| Call Number Prefix | A configurable code that is applied to the beginning of a call number. Any prefix that has been applied to the call number is listed here. | Yes. |
| Call Number Suffix | A configurable code that is applied to the end of a call number. Any suffix that has been applied to the call number is listed here. | Yes. |
| Attribute | Definition | Editable? |
|---|---|---|
| Can Circulate | "Yes" in this attribute will allow circulation if all other facets of a circulation policy will allow circulation. "No" in this attribute will stop all circulation regardless of potential policies. | Yes. |
| Is Holdable | "Yes" in this attribute means this item may be targeted to fulfill a hold if all other facets of a hold policy will allow it. "No" in this attribute will block this item from fulfilling a hold, regardless of potential policies. | Yes. |
| Age Hold Protection | If this is set, it works in conjunction with the Active Date to block external holds within a time frame of 3 months (all holds oustide the owning branch) or 6 months (all holds outside the owning system). Setting this attribute will not block external holds if the Active Date is outside the range of the attribute. | Yes. An automatic process will remove it after the age-hold protection period has ended, but staff can remove it manually prior to that date. |
| Floating Group | Selected libraries may be grouped together to allow items to "float" between them (see note below). These groups are created by administrators, and can be applied to items that should float. | Yes. |
| Loan Duration | Three options: Short, Normal, and Long. When an item is checked out, Evergreen selects a circulation policy to determine the loan duration. If that policy has Long or Short options, and the item has a Long or Short duration set in this attribute, those options in the selected circulation policy will be used. If the selected policy does not have alternative duration options, the Normal policy will be used regardless of this attribute's setting. | Yes. |
| Fine Level | Three options: Low, Normal, and High. When an item is checked out, Evergreen selects a circulation policy to determine the rate of fines. If that policy has Low or High options, and the item has a Low or High fine level set in this attribute, those options in the selected circulation policy will be used. If the selected policy does not have alternative fine levels, the Normal policy will be used regardless of this attribute's setting. | Yes. |
| Circulation Type | Circulation Policies may utilize the Circulation Type as assigned in the MARC record to add further nuance to selection parameters (this is rare). If your library has such a policy, you can add the correct type to items using this attribute. Doing so does not change the metadata stored in the MARC record. | Yes. |
| Circulation Modifier | One of the most common details to impact circulation policy and hold policy selections. This attribute is required when saving an item record. | Yes. |
| OPAC Visible | Determines if an item will be visible to patrons when searching the public catalog. If the shelving location or owning library has been set to OPAC Invisible, that setting will override this attribute. | Yes. |
| Is Reference | Sets the item to reference, regardless of shelving location or call number. This blocks circulation and holds. | Yes. |
Note: Items set to float will be shelved at the library where they are checked in, as long as that library is included in the designated floating group. Items circulated through resource sharing will not be shelved at the circulating library upon return. If not on hold for another user, they will be returned to the owning system.
Attributes in this column may impact transactions in Evergreen by assigning pre-determined costs at circulation (for items requiring a deposit) or in the event of loss of damage.
| Attribute | Definition | Editable? |
|---|---|---|
| Is Deposit Required? | "Yes" in this attribute will trigger a charge for the amount listed in the Deposit Amount attribute. "No" in this column will not trigger a charge even if an amount is listed. | Yes. |
| Deposit Amount | The amount in this attribute will be charged to the patron's account upon checkout only if Is Deposit Required is set to "Yes." | Yes. |
| Price | This should be set to the amount you will charge a patron to replace this item. That may reflect the list price of the item, the amount you actually paid for the item, or a standard amount determined by your library. Holdings imported via the MARC Batch Upload with a price included in the holding profile will populate that price in this field. | Yes. |
| Cost | This may be set to the amount you paid for the item. The amount listed in this field will not be considered when chaging replacement fees. Libraries using Evergreen Acquisitions may have this attribute auto-populated based on prices listed in purchase orders. | Yes. |
| Is Mint Condition | This Attribute may be set to Good or Damaged. Items with this field set to Damaged may not be considered to fulfill holds with condition requirements attached to the request. Setting this Attribute to Damaged will not charge patrons or change the item's status. | Yes. |
This column includes Attributes focused on adding additional information to items that may direct staff during transactions or create extra metadata for reporting purposes. For more details about how and when to add these data points, please see the [link to chapeter].
| Attribute | Definition | Editable? |
|---|---|---|
| Alerts | Customized alert messages that appear when a designated action is taken against an item (such as checking out). Items may have multiple alerts. Staff can add new alerts or edit and delete existing alerts. | Yes. |
| Tags | Customized messages visible in the public catalog and are searchable in both the staff client and public catalog based on configuration. They require two parts: a type and a value. Types must be configured by admin, and are currently limited to Digital Bookplates. | Yes. |
| Notes | Item notes are free text fields that include a note title, note content, and checkbox to indicate whether a note is public. Public notes are visible in the OPAC, but not searchable. | Yes. |
| Floating Group | Selected libraries may be grouped together to allow items to "float" between them (see note below). These groups are created by administrators, and can be applied to items that should float. | Yes. |
| Loan Duration | Three options: Short, Normal, and Long. When an item is checked out, Evergreen selects a circulation policy to determine the loan duration. If that policy has Long or Short options, and the item has a Long or Short duration set in this attribute, those options in the selected circulation policy will be used. If the selected policy does not have alternative duration options, the Normal policy will be used regardless of this attribute's setting. | Yes. |
| Fine Level | Three options: Low, Normal, and High. When an item is checked out, Evergreen selects a circulation policy to determine the rate of fines. If that policy has Low or High options, and the item has a Low or High fine level set in this attribute, those options in the selected circulation policy will be used. If the selected policy does not have alternative fine levels, the Normal policy will be used regardless of this attribute's setting. | Yes. |