Use this import option when you have a CSV or TSV file containing both the common descriptive (bibliographic) data for the assets you wish to import and the details of each unit. 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.


Note: When recording assets in your catalogue, regardless of whether you have one instance or multiple instances of an asset, best practice is to record a single common descriptive record (the bibliographic record in library language) and attach multiple unit records - one for each unit or individual instance of the asset where each unit can have individual barcode, asset tag, purchase price, and other attributes.


Import Records For Assets - Common Descriptive Data And Units Held 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. Set CSV Content:
    1. Catalogue and Holdings - your file contains both bibliographic/descriptive data and holdings/copies data.
  4. Choose Holdings Grouped By:
    1. Title/Author/Media Type - choose this option when you want the import process to use title+author+media type as the unique key for aligning each unit record with its descriptive record.
    2. Catalogue ID - choose this option when you want the import process to use a unique number or code you have created locally for each record in the import file for aligning each unit record with its descriptive record.
  5. Existing ISBN/ISSN Treatment is not applicable for assets.
  6. Existing Barcode Treatment:
    1. Create New Resource Without Barcode - choosing this option means the unit 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 unit data in the import file will be imported and it will overwrite the current unit data with the same barcode.
    3. Skip Existing Resource - choosing this option means the unit 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 unit 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 unit 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. Set Auto-Populate by ISBN is not applicable for assets.
  9. 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.
  10. Batch and Rating Limit - these values should be left as default unless timing issues cause the Z39.50 import to fail.
  11. 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.