Bulk updating is an efficient process for simultaneously updating a set of resource records or a set of bibliographic records.  


Each book (or other resource type) record consists of two parts; descriptive data (bibliographic record), and the individual resource copy data (resource record). If you have multiple copies of the same book then each copy will have a set of attributes unique to that copy while sharing the same bibliographic record. Note: Resource records are sometimes called holdings records or copy records.


Each bibliographic record contains the MARC data for that record. Each resource record contains data specific to the individual copy including: barcode, location data, acquisitions data, and availability.


Duplicate ISBN Considerations


There are valid collection management reasons for duplicating ISBN records in your catalogue and there are valid collection management reasons for not duplicating ISBN.


The most common reason for allowing duplicate ISBN records is managing unified collections across multiple libraries, e.g., a junior library collection and a senior library collection are managed in a single database. Duplicating ISBN records allows junior collection books to have different subjects or genres or other bibliographic data from identical senior collection books.


This might be especially relevant for books that are suitable for the upper level academic years in junior school and the lower level academic years in senior school, and the librarian wants to modify the bibliographic record to suit the audience.


Another reason is to ensure the cover images are displayed in OPAC search results that match to the cover images of the actual titles on the shelves. Cover images may be different for different editions of the same title even though the content is identical, especially with fiction books.


The most common reason for not allowing duplicate ISBN records is to reduce bibliographic record maintenance, especially in a single collection, e.g., junior library collection or a senior library collection managed in separate databases. Identical titles with the same ISBN are readily recognisable on OPAC search result lists because the same title and cover image will be repeated.


Note: If some titles in your catalogue have identical ISBN, and you do not want duplicate ISBN bibliographic records, then you can merging duplicate bibliographic records.


Reservations and Duplicate ISBN


Reservations for books can be made at in a simple first come first served approach, or they can be made at the individual copy level if your collection has multiple copies of a title and the reserver wants a specific copy.


Bulk Update Records


A set of resource records that require attributes to be changed is referred to as a set of candidate resource records. For each candidate set of resource records the bulk update process can be used to change; site, section, budget department, status, replacement cost, and call number (classification and/or main entry) of all resource records in the candidate set.


A set of bibliographic records that require MARC data to be added is referred to as a set of candidate bibliographic records. For each candidate set of bibliographic records the bulk add process can be used to add subject headings and/or genre headings to all bibliographic records in the candidate set.


Note: Any changes made to a bibliographic record or any subject headings or genre headings added to bibliographic records will automatically apply to each associated resource record.


Preparing a Candidate List of Records for Bulk Updating


Note: Each of the options below provides a different method for creating a candidate list of bibliographic or a candidate list of resource records to be processed in bulk. Choose the option that will provide you most efficient processing option for the task at hand. Once the list is finalised the remove, add, or update processes can be applied to the records on the candidate list. The resultant process will be applied to either the bibliographic records, the resource records, or both depending the options you choose.


You can process multiple update lists created by multiple catalogue managers. These are created and managed by each catalogue manager (based on their individual username), but can be seen by all library managers. If multiple lists exist the logged in catalogue manager's list and a count of the number of items on the list will display by default:

  • - click the arrow to show other lists and the number of records on each list.


Note: Each candidate list of records prepared for a bulk update process is automatically owned by the operator who prepared it. Infiniti remembers the creator of a prepared (but not yet processed) list and displays it each time that creator opens Bulk Update.


Note:allows you to assign records in a prepared list, which does not have an owner, to another staff member. This button only displays if there are items that have been orphaned.


Add Attributes To a Set of Bibliographic Records


Prepare a candidate set of records for bulk processing using one of the following methods:


Option 1 - A Single Candidate Bibliographic Record


Go to: Cataloguing 

  1. Locate the bibliographic record.
  2. - retrieve to the edit page.
  3. Add or edit bibliographic record attributes as required. Note: Changes will automatically apply to each copy of the book.


Option 2 - Multiple Candidate Bibliographic Records 


Go to: Cataloguing > Bulk Update > Resource (Barcode) 

  1. Scan the barcodes of the books to process either one at a time or as a set.
  2. After the candidate set has been prepared bulk add attributes to these bibliographic records.

Note: This process is useful when you have a random set of books or resources to update.


Option 3 - Multiple Candidate Bibliographic Records  


Go to: Reports > Catalogue > Bibliographic Records 

  1. Choose the parameters to search by.
  2. .
  3. - send to the bulk update by ISBN.
  4. Choose:
    1. , or
    2. - clear the previous list (if there was one) and start a new list, or
    3. - add to the current list to create an aggregate list of disparate records.
    4. To create an aggregated a set of bibliographic records, repeat from Step 1 as required.
    5. After the candidate set has been prepared bulk add subject and genre to these bibliographic records.

Note: This process is useful when you want to create a candidate list of records based on a range of different attributes, e.g., subject, or author, call number range, or create a disparate list of records.  


Change Attributes For a Set of Resource Records


Prepare a candidate set of resource records for processing using one of the following methods:


Option 1 - Multiple Copies Of One Resource Record 


Go to: Cataloguing 

  1. Locate the bibliographic record of the resource copy.
  2. - retrieve to the edit page.
  3. Update attributes for copies as required.


Option 2 - Multiple Candidate Resource Records


Go to: Cataloguing > Bulk Update > Resources (Barcode) 

  1. Scan the barcodes of the books to process either one at a time or as a set.
  2. After the candidate set has been prepared bulk update attributes for these copy records as required.

Note: This process is useful when you have a random set of books or resources to update.


Option 3 - Multiple Candidate Resource Records     


Go to: Cataloguing > Bulk Update > Resources (Search) 

  1. Optionally search by a combination of; Date Range, Subject, Site, Section, Status, Budget Dept, and Media Type.
  2. .
  3. - ignore records from the list you do not want to include for this bulk update process. Note: These items will remain on the list and will have a red line ruled through them but they will not be processed.
  4. After the candidate set has been prepared bulk update attributes for these copy records as required.

Note: This process is useful when you want to update many different books or resources with one or more common attributes and subjects.


Option 4 - Multiple Candidate Resource Records     


Go to: Reports > Catalogue > Resources 

  1. Choose the parameters to search by.
  2. .
  3. - send to the bulk update by barcode.
  4. Choose:
    1. , or
    2. - clear the previous list (if there was one) and start a new list, or
    3. - add to the current list to create an aggregate list of disparate records.
    4. To create an aggregated a set of resource records, repeat from Step 1 as required.
    5. After the candidate set has been prepared bulk update attributes for these copy records as required.

Note: This process is useful when you want to create a candidate list of records based on a range of different attributes, e.g., subject, or author, call number range, or create a disparate list of records.


Searches can be saved if you wish to run them again.