CIS Cataloging - summary

["Anne Myers" <amyers@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Back in July, I asked for feedback from libraries that had loaded CIS MARC
cataloging records into their Innovative systems. Several people aske dme to
post a summary of responses to the lists - I apologize if you get this
twice, and also for the delay in getting this together. It's been a busy
fall.
---------------------------------------

I heard from a number of libraries that have loaded CIS cataloging records
into their Innopac systems. Most are law-only but a couple of them share
systems with their main library, though no one else reported that both
libraries had CIS sets.

Advantages:
  - definite increase in use of the fiche
  - increased title count

Disadvantages:
  - fiche dominate search results (sometimes more than others, depending on
the subject)
  - huge impact on authority work by cataloging
  - cataloging not consistent or uniform; most libraries said it was
acceptable as a trade-off for the increased use
  - records for serials do not necessarily overlay properly when they are
reloaded yearly

Suggestions:
  - have authority work done on the records before loading into Innopac to
minimize impact staff for clean-up, although a lot will still be required to
reconcile with our catalog
  - records be coded as "m" rather than "a" (for print material) to make it
possible to limit by format after a search is completed
  - make sure there is sufficient file and index space before loading
records
  - load initial records in batches of no more than 15,000 to minimize
problems and overload of the system
  - use the CIS fiche # as the call #
  - purchase an additional load table for Innopac to use exclusively with
CIS


Our decision was to purchase the CIS records. Both the law and the main
university libraries have CIS sets, so we'll all benefit by having records
in our system.  The budget doesn't allow for outside authorization of files,
unfortunately.  We will work together on the cleanup, with the main library
doing the bulk of the work because they have a larger staff.  Two law
librarians shared their profiling information with us, and that will be an
enormous help in figuring out how to make this work. We will also be
definitely heeding the overwhelming advice to load in small batches so as to
not overload cataloging staff doing record cleanup. The specifics still need
to be worked out.

Thanks to all who shared their experiences with us.

Anne
-------
Anne Myers
Head of Technical Services
Boston University Law Library
765 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA  02215
Ph:  617-353-8877      Fax:  617-353-5995
Email:  amyers@xxxxxxxxxx


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