Use this import option when you have or can create a CSV or TSV file containing both the bibliographic or catalogue records for the books you wish to import and the copy details of each copy. The import file may have come from your supplier for new titles recently purchased, or the import file may have been created locally by exporting data from your legacy library management system. 

There are a number of different configuration options you must choose when importing your CSV files. The options you choose determine the file requirements that must be met, including mandatory and optional data required for each record. Once you have chosen your settings you should clickto check file specifications required for your settings.

Import Records From A Publisher - Bibliographic And Holdings Data

Go to: Cataloguing > Imports > CSV

1. Choose Import Format:
   1. Comma Separated (CSV) - choose this for files in CSV format. Note: CSV is recommended.
   2. Tab Separated (TSV) - choose this for files in Tab Separated format.
2. Clickto locate the import file.
3. CSV Content:
   1. Catalogue and Holdings - your file contains both bibliographic/descriptive data and holdings/copies data.
4. Holdings Grouped By:
   1. ISBN/ISSN - choose this option when each bibliographic record in the import file has a unique ISBN or ISSN which the import process will use to align each holding/copy record with its bibliographic record. Tip: If some records in the file do not have ISBN/ISSN separate these records from the main file into a second file and process that second file using option 2 or 3 below.
   2. Title/Author/Media Type - choose this option when the bibliographic records in the import file do not have an ISBN or ISSN and you want the import process to use title+author+media type as the unique key to align each holding/copy record with its bibliographic record.
   3. Catalogue ID - choose this option when the bibliographic records in the import file do not have an ISBN or ISSN and you want the import process to use a unique number or code you have created for each record in the file to align each holding/copy record with its bibliographic record.
5. Existing ISBN/ISSN Treatment:
   1. Create New Catalogue Record - if an ISBN/ISSN match is detected, ignore the match and create a new record. This may result in duplicate bibliographic records. Note: Use this option if you are trying to import separate records which have identical ISBNs in a Series, e.g., 9781784936457 - Science in action series - all these titles have the same ISBN.
   2. Overwrite Existing Catalogue Record - if an ISBN/ISSN match is detected, overwrite the existing record with either data from the data source, i.e., the import file or the MARC21 data source (refer to Auto-Populate by ISBN below). Note: Any locally added metadata will be destroyed and replaced with data from the data source.
   3. Skip Existing Catalogue Record - if an ISBN/ISSN match is detected, leave the existing record unchanged and skip over the file record.
6. Existing Barcode Treatment:
   1. Create New Resource Without Barcode - choosing this option means the holding/copy data in the import file will be imported but you will have to add a barcode at a future time before the resource can be circulated.
   2. Overwrite Existing Resource - choosing this option means the holding/copy data in the import file will be imported and it will overwrite the current holding/copy data with the same barcode.
   3. Skip Existing Resource - choosing this option means the holding/copy data in the import file with a matching barcode will not be imported, i.e., it will be skipped, and the details of the resource currently in the holdings will remain unchanged.
7.  Unrecognised Site or Section to one of the following:
   1. Skip Record - if either the site or the section for a holdings record in the import file is not defined for your catalogue, then the record will not be imported. Note: You can check defined Sites and Sections at Config > Library > Site/Section prior to importing the file.
   2. Use Cataloguing Defaults - if either the site or the section for a holdings record in the import file is not defined for your catalogue, then the default values. Note: You can check default Site and Section at Config > Settings > Cataloguing > Site/Section prior to importing the file.
8. Auto-Populate by ISBN:
   1. If the message There are no z39.50 servers configured for cataloguing which support the ISBN use attribute is displayed and you want to auto-populate imported bibliographic records you must ensure the Z39.50 serve you intend to use is configured to check ISBN and ISSN in Config > Integration > Z39.50 > edit Z39.50 server.
   2. - do not auto-populate the records. Note: The data in the import file will be used to populate the bibliographic record.
   3. - auto-populate the records with MARC21 data from the selected Z39.50 server. Note: The ISBN in the import file will be used to populate the bibliographic record.
9. Z39.50 - use this data source for MARC21 updates. Note: This option is only available if Auto-Populate by ISBN is switched.
   
10. Read Current Import Behaviour panel carefully to ensure the imported records will be allocated as you expect. Note: This is a generic message applying to all CSV imports that uses library language for all media type and dynamically draws its content from the current values on this page and the configuration settings in Config > Settings > General.
11. Batch and Rating Limit - these values should be left as default unless timing issues cause the Z39.50 import to fail.
12. Choose:
    1. - proceed with the import. Note: This process imports the file and saves the new records immediately and cannot be easily reversed.
    2. - test the file to check for major errors. Note: This process simulates all aspects of the import without saving any data and potentially polluting your catalogue, allowing you to test the outcome of a normal import and offers the opportunity to correct reported data failures.

A summary report will display the results of the processing.