Serials Holdings questions

["Ann Kebabian" <akebabian@xxxxxxxxxx>]

At Colgate, we are examining different options for recording summary
("Library Has") holdings data.  We currently use 852 fields in
bibliographic records;  however, due to time and historical imperatives,
we have used different conventions over time.  We want to standardize
our approach, adopt a system that will give patrons the clearest
information, be low maintenance in the future, and work with a variety
of record sources.

We are most interested in converting current data to the MARC holdings
format, which would require moving our data to checkin records.
However, before we proceed, we have some questions.

1.  Is it possible for our WebOPAC to display holdings (Library Has)
fields from BOTH the bibliographic record and the checkin record?
There are two situations that prompt this question:

  1.a.  During the conversion process, we will have some holdings data
in the old form (852 fields in bibs) and some in the new form (MARC
holdings in checkins).  How we structure the conversion (speed, etc.)
will depend on whether we can simultaneously display Library Has
information from both sources (bibs and checkins).

  1.b.  Our current method of dealing with Serials Solutions records
puts holdings data in the 852 field of the bibliographic records.  We
would rather not change these procedures, so we would prefer to continue
to display Library Has information from both bibs and checkins
indefinitely.

2.  We are in an INN-Reach shared catalog.  Can INN-Reach cope with
holdings information that comes from both the bibs and checkins?  If
not, which is the preferred method of recording holdings to make the
INN-Reach system the most user-friendly?

3.  We have the ability to write our own load tables.  Have any of you
written loaders that will extract holdings data from the Serials
Solutions spread sheets and get it into MARC (or MARC-like) format in a
checkin?  If so, are you willing to share?

4.  Have any of you retrospectively converted your serials holdings to
MARC format?  Do you have any information that would help us estimate
the size of our project?  I'm thinking of things like the number of
holdings statements converted per month or FTE, the level of staff you
used, the kinds of problems you encountered, etc.

We realize that some of these questions may have to go to the III Help
Desk, but I hope that I can refine my questions to them by taking
advantage of the voices of experience first.

Thanks so much for your help!

Ann Kebabian
Head of Cataloging
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY 13346
Phone: 315-228-7309
Fax: 315-228-7934
Email: akebabian@xxxxxxxxxx




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