[IUG] Have both MeSH and LC headings in the library catalog

["Zhu, Lihong" <lzhu2 at wsu dot edu>]

Do you have both MeSH headings and LC headings in your library catalog?
If you have, do you have a separate subject index just for MeSH, and a
separate authority database for MESH? 

OCLC posted the following e-mail yesterday:

"From: owner-bcr-l at bcr dot org [mailto:owner-bcr-l at bcr dot org
<mailto:owner-bcr-l at bcr dot org> ] On Behalf Of Sharon Hoffhines

Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 2:40 PM

To: bcr-l at bcr dot org

Subject: OCLC/National Library of Medicine Records

OCLC BATCH SERVICES TO MAKE REVISED NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE RECORDS
AVAILABLE

Many of you will already be aware of changes in MeSH subject heading
practices that the National Library of Medicine is implementing. A full
explanation can be found in NLM Technical Bulletin 346 (2005

September-October)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/so05/so05_marc.html
<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/so05/so05_marc.html> .

As the NLM announcement indicates, revised records reflecting the new
practices will be distributed in early December. OCLC plans to load the
file (expected to be about 200,000 records) as expeditiously as possible
after the file is received and tested. An announcement will be
distributed when loading is complete.

If a member library is interested in obtaining replacement copies of the
updated records for use in its local catalogs, staff can send OCLC a
list of OCLC numbers for those records for which they want updated MARC
records. Prior to sending this list, libraries will need to complete a
Batchload Order form specifying that the project is a one-time effort to
obtain MARC records and that input will be non-MARC. Please note that in
addition to the per-record read and evaluation fee, a per-record matched
(record returned) charge is incurred.

Questions can be directed to Linda Gonzalez at BCR - lgonzale at bcr dot org or

(800) 397-1552 - or to batchservices at oclc dot org dot "

So far, we only have LC headings in our catalog. If we are going to take
the above opportunity to buy records from OCLC to add MeSH headings,
what is the best procedure to follow to accomplish this? 

If we are going to index MeSH separately, it will mean that we have to
do the reindexing of the whole database. To mix MeSH and LC in the same
index will be a nightmare for see and see also references. It will also
be a nightmare for authority control.

If buy OCLC records to overlay the existing bibs , we will lose all the
local editing we did, including LC headings we have added locally. 

If you have experience in this kind of project, we'd appreciate it very
much if you can share your experience with us. 

Thanks in advance. 

***********************************************************************
Lihong Zhu
Head, Bibliographic Control Department
Collections and Technical Services Division
Holland Library, Washington State University Libraries
P.O. Box 645610, Pullman, WA 99164-5610
E-mail: lzhu2 at wsu dot edu
Phone: (509) 335-7769
Fax: (509) 335-9589
 


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