Bulk cataloguing is a process that allows you to add multiple new MARC21 bibliographic records to your catalogue or update existing MARC21 bibliographic records simultaneously. This is helpful if you have acquired new titles (ISBNs) not already in your catalogue and you want to catalogue them with the MARC records available from a Z39.50 source, or if you want to improve or refresh the quality of a current set of bibliographic records in your catalogue with the latest MARC records available from your preferred source using Z39.50.


Note: Bulk cataloguing MARC21 records is only possible if you have ISBN numbers for each record to be catalogued and your preferred Z39.50 source has a matching MARC record.


Bulk Cataloguing Options


Check and retrieve records from:

  1. A single Z39.50 source.
  2. Multiple Z39.50 sources simultaneously.


Configuration Prerequisites


Prior to bulk cataloguing from a single Z39.50 remote source you must ensure you have at least one remote server configured as a source for your MARC records.


Prior to bulk cataloguing from multiple Z39.50 sources simultaneously, ensure each source is included in your multi-search list.


Bulk Cataloguing From A Single Source


Go to: Cataloguing

  1. - is the default source to check for matching bibliographic records but you can click the dropdown to search another source. Note: By default, My Library (your library's current catalogue) is chosen to ensure the cataloguing process will search your local catalogue before searching remote sources so as to avoid unintentional MARC record duplication, but you can choose one or more Z-servers to simultaneously check, from the list of configured z-servers in Configure Z39.50 Sources.
  2. - search with Multiple ISBNs.
  3. Database - choose a single source from the list.
  4. Multiple ISBNs:
    1. scan multiple ISBNs, one per row, or
    2. cut and paste a list of ISBNs from a CSV file, or
    3. cut and paste a list of ISBNs separated by commas. 
  5. Direct Import:
    1. - up 50 ISBNs are permitted:
      1. - search and retrieve found records.
      2. - manually import each record individually as required.
    2. - up to 1,000 ISBNs are permitted:
      1. Skip Existing Records - leave the existing ISBN record in tact
      2. Overwrite Existing Records - replace existing records with found records.
      3. - search and import all records found.
      4. Import results will be displayed (see Accession Copies of Books below).
  6. After bulk importing MARC records, individual copies must be added before the records will be found at OPAC.


Bulk Cataloguing From Multiple Sources


Go to: Cataloguing

  1. - is the default source to check for matching bibliographic records but you can click the dropdown to search another source. Note: By default, My Library (your library's current catalogue) is chosen to ensure the cataloguing process will search your local catalogue before searching remote sources so as to avoid unintentional MARC record duplication, but you can choose one or more Z-servers to simultaneously check, from the list of configured z-servers in Configure Z39.50 Sources.
  2. - search with Multiple ISBNs.
  3. Database - choose a multi-Source option from the list.
  4. Multiple ISBNs - scan multiple ISBNs or cut and paste a list of ISBNs from a CSV file. Note: Only 50 ISBNs are permitted each for each batch. Up 50 records will be retrieved:
  5. - search and retrieve found records.
  6. - manually import each record individually as required.
  7. After bulk importing MARC records, individual copies must be added before the records will be found at OPAC.


Accession Copies of Books


After bulk importing of bibliographic records a report will be presented showing which records were successfully created, updated, or skipped. The list will remain active until you close it. Click each ISBN to accession respective copies. Each bibliographic record will open in a separate tab allowing accession details to be added. After adding and saving details the tab can be optionally closed. If the full list is not processed and your session is closed, you can continue to accession copies using the Backward Glance Report.