[Koha] Importing records into Koha

[Steven F. Baljkas]

Thursday, April 22, 2004    17:35 CDT

Hi, Gregory,

> I have been asked to put the catalog for a fairly small university
> department collection online, and Koha seems to be the perfect solution.

Depending on how small 'small' is and the nature of the collection (newer
vs. older works, monographs vs. serials or other formats, North American vs.
other), you might have less frustration just using the database you have now
as a search list and doing it manually. Read on before opting for that
though ...

> I've got it installed without much problem, but I'm not sure what the
> best method is for importing the records. The problem is that they are
> in an idiosyncratic format in spreadsheet form, not in MARC. It appears
> that the only format in which Koha (v1.2.3) accepts batch files is MARC.

Is there a reason you are not using the full-MARC compliant 2.0? I thought
that it could accept records that were missing even the ISBN?!

> I'm a Perl hacker, and I know about MARC::Record, etc., so I can create
> MARC records if necessary.

That might be wise.

> BUT here's the problem: whoever catalogued these books did not see fit
> to record any ISBNs! And Koha apparently rejects any records without
> ISBNs, according to my tests (though it's hard to know when the error
> message is "Error: Problem with...<title>"). So, short of typing all the
> information in, can you suggest a method for getting these records into
> the database? I assume that the MySQL tables are sufficently complex
> that I don't want to go mucking about with them. Perhaps there is a
> Z39.50 solution for getting the ISBNs? Any suggestions would be
appreciated.

There was a utility offered (I still have the .gz zipped file but have
somehow lost the note that it came with from its programmer: sorry, to
whoever you are out there) that would do a z39.50 search for records using
data from a pre-existing database. You would probably have more luck
checking the archives to find it (certainly more luck than I am having
checking my personal archives) or perhaps someone else on the listserv will
remember what I am talking about.

Otherwise, you might just be able to do quick searches -- manual might even
work well enough if there are not too many items -- just to retrieve ISBNs
and adjust your spreadsheet to have a column for that info. Of course, I am
assuming that there are no ISBNs evident on the works themselves, 'cause
that would be the easiest way to get them.

But if you are right, Gregory, and Koha rejects items without ISBNs, what
are we supposed to do when items really do not have them (i.e. pre-date
ISBNs or just were never submitted to their publisher's national agency)? I
suppose at worst one would have to make up fake ISBNs?!

Steven F. Baljkas
library tech at large
Koha neophyte
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada


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