[Koha] Replace all existing call numbers with LoC

[Paul A]

At 07:45 PM 3/23/2016 +0000, Daniel Glendening wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I'm working on a restructuring of a small arts non-profit library. The
>library currently uses an esoteric, confusing custom catalog numbering
>system devised by a staff member who is no longer here.
>
>We'd like to switch all our records over to LoC cataloging. We currently are
>using Koha 3.18.05.100 - I'm curious if it's possible to replace all our
>records with LoC records, in bulk, rather than editing each individually.

Having gone through the same sort of "exercise" for about 13,000 records 
five or six years ago, the short answer is "no", it's not possible. (The 
long answer is that it might be possible to write a script to try and batch 
import via Z3950, but this would assume many things -- that there are no 
typos in your existing titles, authors (confusion over authorities), ISBNs, 
publishers, edition numbers, publication dates, etc; and that LoC actually 
have all your records which is probably true for 99% of US first and 
numbered/revised edition publications, but watch out for differences in 
ISBNs between hardbacks and trade paperbacks, and be very aware that later 
imprints are "spotty" at best; LoC is also helpful for a few / some 
"foreign" titles.)

We "imported" from spreadsheets via MarcEdit and in hindsight got a lot of 
"success" and some blatant deficiencies which we're still correcting. The 
bottom line is that we are still "re-cataloguing", with LoC, LAC, BL, BNF, 
whatever Z3950 records, (and of course with the "Mark 1 eyeball" method) 
many books that have been on our shelves for twenty or more years.

Your mileage might vary...

Wishing you luck -- Paul

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Maritime heritage and history, preservation and conservation,
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