Home → Holds Management in Evergreen → Types of Holds → Holds using Monograph Parts

2.4. Holds using Monograph Parts

Last Updated 03/23/2026

What are Monograph Parts?

On This Page

Monograph parts (or Monographic Parts) in Evergreen enhance patron flexibility for holds on multi-part items while consolidating them under a single bibliographic record. This is applicable to items like DVD boxed sets, where individual discs circulate separately, or any subset of items that don't represent the total bibliographic record, enabling patrons to place holds on specific parts rather than entire items. These holds are more efficient than copy-level holds, allowing patrons to request title-level holds that target available items with the same parts designation. To place a hold, patrons select the applicable part from a menu after retrieving the record for the item. The cataloging of Monograph parts adheres to NC Cardinal's controlled vocabulary, ensuring consistency across libraries. Staff are advised to report any items lacking proper designation for cataloging purposes.

Monograph parts (also referred to as Monographic Parts or simply Parts) are a way for Evergreen to differentiate and provide patrons with more flexibility when placing holds on multi-part items encompassed by one title/bibliographic record. Examples might include a DVD boxed set of a TV season, for which individual discs circulate seperately. In this case, all the discs would be attached to the single bibliographic record referring to that season of the tv show, but patrons may borrow one disc at a time, and plce holds for the specific discs they want.

Not all libraries use Monograph Parts, but even patrons at libraries that do not cirectly use this designation may request specific parts when placing holds. Monograph parts labels are shared by all libraries in the consortium and should utilize NC Cardinal's controlled vocabulary established in Cataloging Best Practices. This allows parts holds to target the correct items.

Learn more about the cataloging side of this topic in the Monograph Parts chapter of the Cataloging Bibliographic Records book.

Why do we need Monograph Parts?

While call numbers often include information about which pieces the item represents, call number information can vary widely from one library to another and has no effect on hold fulfillment in Evergreen. Applying monograph parts to different items on a bibliographic record allows Evergreen to identify which items represent the same parts (regardless of owning library). Because Evergreen knows which items are the same, patrons can place title-level holds for specific parts and Evergreen will target any of the available barcode items with that part designation to fulfill the patron's hold with the specific material that they want.

Monograph parts holds are better than copy-level holds, since a copy-level hold can only be placed by staff and only targets the single barcoded item for which the hold was placed. Patrons can place monograph parts holds themselves on a title level, allowing the maximum number of potential items to fill the hold request (all items that have the same monograph parts label applied). This often means less time waiting for an item to become available and ensures that the correct item gets to the patron. Staff should report any holdable items without an appropriate monograph parts designation to their local cataloging staff (if owned by their library system) or to the cataloging contact person for the system that owns the item(s) that need a monograph parts label.

Placing Monograph Parts Level Hold