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3.5. Batch Import Bibliographic Records and Holdings

How to Batch Import Bibliographic Records and Holdings

The cataloging module includes an enhanced MARC Batch Import interface for loading MARC (and MARCXML) records. This interface allows you to upload multiple title records at the same time, specify match points between incoming and existing records, and to specify MARC fields that should be overlaid or preserved. Records are added to a queue where you can apply filters that enable you to generate any errors that may have occurred during import. You can print, email or export your queue as a CSV file. 

Catalogers should not be overlaying existing records in batch. As explained below, the Match-Only Merge  profile will import holdings onto existing matching records and a cataloger can select Import Non-Matching Records to bring in records that are not yet in the catalog. Before overlaying any existing record in the NC Cardinal catalog, a cataloger should always examine that record individually (from their queue) to ensure they are only overlaying brief records (never over an existing record, unless it is very poor). Otherwise, the additions and enhancements made to the record by previous cataloger(s) and/or our authorities vendor would be wiped away.

General Steps:

1. Download your import file from the vendor site or create your import file with software such as MarcEdit. Limit the number of MARC records within the import file to no more than a few hundred. If you have to, divide the file.
2. Name your imported or created file. A suggested notation:

xxxxmmddyyyy, where xxxx = vendor name, mm=month, dd=day, yyyy=year

** You will use this file within Evergreen. NC Cardinal recommends that you keep your vendor files for at least 30 days.

3. Log into Evergreen.

     4. Select MARC Batch Import/Export from the Cataloging menu.

The Import Records screen displays. Note that the Evergreen tab is labeled “Server Settings.”   

5. Select a Record Type from the drop down menu. The page defaults to Record Type = Bibliographic Records.

6. Create a queue to which you can upload your records, or add your records to an existing queue. Queues are linked to match sets and a holdings import profile. You cannot change a holdings import or record match set for a queue. When selecting a name for your queue, choose one that is recognizable and unique. You could use some variation on the filename created in step 2 above.

NOTE: If you accidentally skip this field, an unnamed queue is created for you by default. It appears as a blank line at the top of the drop-down list for Existing queues. Any new batches with no queue selected will be added to the unnamed queue.

7. Select a Record Match Set from the drop down menu. Always use the default Cardinal match match set. If you believe you need a different match set, please contact the NC Cardinal team.

8. Select a Holdings Import Profile if you want to import holdings that are attached to your records. Always choose the appropriate profile for your library. This is required when importing holdings, but not necessary if you are not. If you need to set up a holdings profile with your vendor, please have your vendor use the fields defined in the Evergreen 852 profile.

9. Select a Record Source: Choose a record source. System Local or OCLC are appropriate in almost all cases.

10. Select a Merge Profile. Merge profiles enable you to specify which tags should be removed or preserved in incoming records. In almost all cases, Match-Only Merge is the appropriate profile. There is background code built into Evergreen that specifies that any import using the Match-Only Merge profile (or any profile with the 901c in the Replace Specification field) will import only the new holdings if there is an existing record in the database that is determined to be a match, or bring in the new record and holdings if there is not (assuming that the Import Non-Matching Records box is checked). Catalogers should not be overlaying existing records in batch. The Match-Only Merge profile will import holdings onto existing matching records and a cataloger can select Import Non-Matching Records (below) to bring in records that are not yet in the catalog. They can examine records in their queue to individually overlay brief records (never over an existing record, unless it is very poor), as needed.

Note: If you are importing e-resources DO NOT use this interface. Instead, please see the Retrieving E-Resource Advantage MARC Files from Overdrive and Uploading Electronic Resources with Secure File Transfer pages for further recommendations.

The Full Overlay profile (or any profile with the 901c in the Preserve Specifications field) should be used rarely and with caution, as it will overlay the existing record with the newly imported matching record, based on the Match Set used. It is important not to overlay a full and complete record that already exists in the NC Cardinal catalog with a vendor record of unknown quality without first evaluating the existing matching record(s). If using Full Overlay, you should not check any import/merge boxes (instruction numbers 11, 12, 13, and 14) and should, instead, review all matching records using the upload queue (beginning at instruction number 20). The record retained should align with NC Cardinal best practices. It is also important to compare and evaluate if there are more than one matching records, as it may also be necessary to merge and/or edit those records outside of the batch import process.

  11. Import Non-Matching Records = Check this box only if using the Match-Only Merge profile. 

  12. Merge on Exact Matches (901c): Do NOT check this option. This option is only used when Evergreen records have been exported, edited, and then you wish to replace the EXACT record.

  13. Merge on Single Match: It is unnecessary to check this option if you check Merge on Best Match.

  14. Merge on Best Match: Check this box only if using the Match-Only Merge profile.

  15. Under Copy Import Actions, choose Auto-overlay In-process Acquisitions Copies if you want to overlay temporary copies that were created by the Acquisitions module. The system will attempt to overlay copies that:

  16. File to Upload: Once you’ve created an Upload Queue and the appropriate Record Source, select the record file. The file should be a record or set of records you have saved in MARC format. Click the Browse button. The File Upload window opens. Use the Look In drop-down box to find the file you need if it is not displayed. When you have selected the MARC record file and it is displayed in the File Name box, click the Open button. The File Upload window will close and your file should be displayed in the “File to Upload” field.

   17. The Upload button transfers records from the import file to the CARDINAL server. Once the upload button is clicked, the screen displays “Uploading… Processing…” to indicate that the records are being transferred. A progress bar should display, showing the actual import progress.

   18. When the records have finished uploading, the Record Queue screen should display. If you selected Import Non-Matching Records, all new records and holdings should automatically be imported. Any records that duplicate existing records within NC Cardinal will be displayed in the import queue you created.

   19. Inspect the Import Queue. If all records were imported, you are finished with the import procedure. If there were existing records with the same ISBN, those records will be listed in the import queue. If you selected Match Only Merge as the Merge/Overlay Profile and checked Merge on Best Match, then your holdings should already be attached to the records listed in the Imported As column. You can confirm that the records and/or holdings were imported by copying the value in the Imported As column, open a new tab and select Cataloging → Retrieve title by database ID from the top menu and paste in the database ID you copied. Alternatively, you can search the catalog to confirm that the record was imported. Do not import the record(s) again.

   20. Review Queue Before Importing: If you intended to review all records before import and did not check any boxes, then the screen will display records that have been uploaded to your queue, but not imported. Above the table there are three sections:

• Queue Actions lists common actions for this queue. Export Non-Imported Records will export a MARC file of records that failed to import, allowing those records to be edited as needed and imported separately. (Those records can be viewed by clicking the Limit to Non-Imported Records filter.)
• Queue Summary shows a brief summary of the records included in the queue.
• Queue Filters provides options for limiting which records display in the table.

 

   21. If Evergreen indicates that matching records exist, then click the Matches link to view the matching records. Check the box adjacent to the existing record that you want to merge with the incoming record.

 

   22. Click Back to Import Queue.

   23. Check the boxes of the records that you want to import, and click Import Selected Records, or click Import All Records.

   24. A pop up window will offer you the same import choices that were present on the Import Records screen. You can choose one of the import options, or click Import.

 

   25. The screen will refresh. The Queue Summary indicates that the record was imported. The Import Time column records the date that the record was imported. Also, the Imported As column should now display the database ID (also known as the bib record number) for the imported record.

 

   26. You can confirm that the record was imported by using the value of the Imported As column by selecting the menu Cataloging → Retrieve title by database ID and using the supplied Imported As number. Alternatively, you can search the catalog to confirm that the record was imported.