Derek Marshall (speaker), Melody Dale (speaker)

1. Modifications
Introduction
As more and more print serials are replaced in favor of electronic
versions, discoverability of print content is vital for seamless access
to library resources. Mississippi State University Libraries worked to
enhance the discoverability of print journals within the online catalog
through a detailed inventory project and subsequent “clean-up” of
MARC holdings statements in the libraries’ ILS. Not only was this
project incorporated in order to assist MSU students and faculty in
the discoverability of print journals, but also to display more accurate
holdings for collection analysis and in OCLC for interlibrary loan. This
process allowed for the transformation of confusing holdings records
while still following acceptable MARC holdings standards.
Process
Mississippi State University Libraries created standards that conform
closely to current ANSI/NISO standards, but were slightly modified to fit
the needs of our institution.
Spaces between entries and entries on separate lines were included to
make the holdings in the library’s online catalog display more cleanly and
appear in a format that could be more easily understood by patrons.
|82|av.1:no.1 (2011:Jan.) – v.1:no.12 (2011:Dec.)
In other words:
|82|av.1:no.1space(2011:Jan.)space-spacev.1:no.12space(2011:Dec.)
Step 1:
Make corrections to information supplied under the “Basic” tab.
Step 2:
Deselect the “automatically update MARC holdings”
function under the “OPAC Display” tab.
Step 3:
Add necessary notes under “Extended Info” Tab.
History
Mississippi State Libraries uses the SirsiDynix Integrated Library System.
Step 4:
Standardize public notes under field 852
Serial control records
• Where all information for print serials is contained.
• “Automatic Update” feature for updating MARC holdings.
- As journals/serials were checked-in, SIRSI would automatically
add the latest issue received into the MARC holdings record for
public display.
• “Pattern” manually established to instruct SIRSI on how individual
issues of a journal would be displayed.
- Dependent on data entered by staff, which was not always
consistent or conformed to set pattern.
- Inconsistencies in data entered “confused” SIRSI resulting in
extremely faulty displays to the public.
The added spaces are a deviation from the ANSI/NISO standards, but
it was decided that we would sacrifice the standards in order to have
a cleaner interface for our patrons. The problem arose, in large part,
because of our OPAC display.
Whenever there are missing issues, a comma is placed after the holdings
then the holdings pick back up on the next line.
Before
After
Step 5:
Clean up and compress MARC holdings based on the new display
modifications
Step 6:
Inventory physical holdings and update holding records in Sirsi to reflect
what we actually have.
Progress
(as
• Designed to display received issues in paragraph format, resulting in
confusing, unreadable interface due in part to the display and font of
Mississippi State Libraries’ online catalog.
of beginning
FY2014)
Print Bound Journals
Titles completed: 3,125
Incomplete: 950
Main
Veterinary Medicine
Architecture
Special Collections
Active vs. Inactive Titles
Progress
Complete
Incomplete
Now, manually entered MARC holdings enhance the look of the OPAC
display by creating a more readable format for holdings statements.
Other problems arose from previous system migrations as some historical
data was not compliant to the Sirsi ILS.
Mississippi State University Libraries decided to correct these problems
by cleaning up MARC holdings through a detailed inventory project and
subsequent correction of holdings records.
Active: 652
Inactive: 3,423
Main: 3,200
Veterinary Medicine: 425
Architecture: 100
Special Collections: 350
Active
Inactive
Benefits/Outcomes
•
•
•
•
•
Improves discoverability of print holdings
Collection analysis
Correct historical errors (title changes, etc.)
Ability to fill gaps found through the
inventory project
Cleaner records for OCLC, which better
facilitates ILL