[Koha] Re-catalogue a library

[clint.deckard]

Nick and other helpful respondents,
thank you and everyone else for their input and assistance, it is
appreciated.

Just in case this might be of interest to someone else, here is short
record of this particular re-cataloguing journey.

The issue: Library had poor quality records, many original cataloguing
records by novices. Subject headings etc did not follow a standard. many
of the 'cool' features of Koha are compromised by the poor records.

The solution: update records from a single, education specific
commercial provider to ensure consistent, accurate, standards based
cataloguing.

The process:
1. Started by scanning an item and updating the record via Z39.50. Since
this was very slow,

2. Created a file of barcodes and retrieved batches of matching records,
then used the 'Stage marc records' tools to import.
Matching on ISBN was about 60% successful as original ISBNs were 10
digit or as in a number of instances it was the barcode that had scanned
  as the ISBN in the original record.
Added a rule for ISBN , Title and Author as per
http://manual.koha-community.org/3.16/en/catadmin.html#recordmatchingrules
but the improvement in matching was marginal mainly due to the poor 
quality of the original records.

In the end the librarian has chosen to go back to updating via Z39.50. 
Although slower, it ensures the best chance of correcting errors and the 
librarian can be confident in the quality of the records.

Not a task you would want to have to repeat.

Thank you for all your help.

Clint.




Nick Clemens wrote:
> We had a library severely damaged in a flood that had to catalogue about
> 7-10k items.  Volunteers went through boxes, scanning the ISBN and a
> barcode into a text file and then we used MARCEdit to batch look up the
> isbns and used a simple perl script to auto generate items then cleaned up
> the not found by hand.
> 
> Happy to share scripts, rough as they are, if you are interested
> 
> On Tue, Aug 18, 2015 at 12:17 AM, Bob Birchall <bob at calyx.net.au> wrote:
> 
>> On 18/08/15 09:43, clint.deckard wrote:
>>
>>> I would appreciate any tips, hints or suggestions for re-cataloguing a
>>> 7000 item library.
>>>
>>> At the moment, an item is scanned and then the record updated via Z39.50
>>> but this is a slow process.
>>> What other approaches are there?
>>>
>>> Thank you,
>>> Clint.
>>>
>>> Hi Clint,
>> One possibility is to compile of file of ISBNs and submit it to your
>> national library (Te Puna in your case).  They could provide you with a
>> file of MARC records.  Matching on title and author might also be
>> possible.  There might be a fee involved and you still have to  create
>> items locally, but its quicker than cataloguing individually.
>> Hope this helps.
>> Bob Birchall
>> Calyx
>>
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>>
> 
> 
>