Full Marc Records for e-journals]] Kira Haimovsky 25 May 2004 18:05 UTC
----- Forwarded by KIRA HAIMOVSKY/STAFF/FIRE on 05/25/2004 01:55 PM ----- "Carol M. Baker" <cmbaker@ucalgary .ca> To haimovsky@fordham.edu 05/25/2004 11:51 cc AM Subject [SERIALST] Full Marc Records for e-journals]] Hi Kira, Your Serialst query was forwarded to me by a colleague. We were a Sirsi beta site for Serials Solutions MARC product and have been loading their MARC records since September 2002. The latest update was loaded on the weekend and we now have 14,914 SS bibliographic records with 22,819 links for 57 publisher/aggregator packages. Prior to moving to Serials Solutions we had been manually cataloguing our ejournals using the one record approach. We had not considered loading the various vendor records because we did not want to have multiple records for ejournal titles available from various packages. By the time that I heard about Serials Solutions it had become obvious that we could not keep up with the maintenance for the increasing no. of ejournal packages that we were acquiring, particularly the aggregator packages. The Serials Solutions option was of interest for several reasons: a single bib record with all the appropriate links; use of Conser records; regular updates; and the amazing amount of customization. Our experience has been a very positive one. They are very responsive and committed to producing a quality product. We have added e-packages gradually -- our first load had ca. 5,500 records. As the packages were added we did go back and manually remove the records we had catalogued manually. It was necessary to do this manually because we had used the one-record approach and, in many cases, there were multiple 856s often added to records with print holdings. Fortunately, we had added a 099 field with an e-package identifier for statistical purposes and could use this to identify the records. The monthly updates are loaded by our Library IT people. They work with the file of new, changed and deleted records. The new and changed records are loaded and then the 'old' changed and deleted records are deleted from the system. I can provide more info on that if you are interested. We have a Sirsi test system so we always load it on there first and do some testing prior to loading on our production server. Experience has taught us that the vendor can do some strange things like moving servers, changing urls, etc. particularly during the summer and Christmas breaks. I am very pleased with the MARC product. We saw an increase in the use of the ejournals after we started putting the records in the catalogue. We are still manually cataloguing ejournals that we don't receive through ejournal packages -- single orders, internet access with print orders and freebies. Therefore we still don't use Serials Solutions A-Z list because it is not complete but this is under discussion. I have not been following the Serialst discussion so do not know if you have received much response. However, I did want to tell you a bit about our experience because it has been so positive. If I can provide any other information, please do not hesitate to contact me. All the best, Carol Baker University of Calgary (403) 220-6165 -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Fwd: [SERIALST] Full Marc Records for e-journals] Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 11:08:15 -0600 From: Christine Hayward <christine.hayward@ucalgary.ca> To: Carol Baker <cmbaker@ucalgary.ca> ----- Message from Kira Haimovsky <HAIMOVSKY@FORDHAM.EDU> on Fri, 21 May 2004 12:22:44 -0400 ----- To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: [SERIALST] Full Marc Records for e-journals We are considering to subscribe to the Full MARC Records service from SerialsSolutions(or maybe from EbscoHost, their Marc Records are much less expensive). I am looking for comments from librarians that already implemented this product (especially if they have Sirsi library system). How did you prepare for it? Did you clean-up your OPAC before or after the initial download (if you previously cataloged e-journals using print records with 856)? Was it a messy process all together? How are monthly updates handled, is it a lot of work? Is there something you wish you have done differently had you known more about the process in advance? Any do and don't tips? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Kira Haimovsky Head, Serials & Electronic Resources Dept. Fordham University Library 441 E. Fordham Rd. Bronx, NY 10458 tel: 718-817-3534 fax: 718-817-3530 haimovsky@fordham.edu