Minutes

Prospector Cataloging Reference Committee

February 3, 2000

 

Attendance: Sandy Arnesen, Joan Beam, Bill Garrison, Lois Jones, Helen Reed, Carol White, George Machovec

 

 

  1. Prospector Update:    Libraries updating large numbers of records were causing backups in the Prospector transaction file.  In some cases these updates were not transactions that impacted the data in the Prospector record.  III has re-written the Inn-Reach code to skip unnecessary (to Prospector) transactions.   This new code is in place but it is not yet documented.  Prospector database statistics are run on a quarterly basis by III and are published in Datalink (http://www.coalliance.org/datalink).  An enhanced task force login for staff mode in Prospector is now available.  Contact George Machovec (gmachove@coalliance.org) if you need this login.

 

  1. CARL system integration:  There was a problem with loading summary serials holdings data from CARL library catalogs into III due to limitations in field size.  III has stated their intention to have new code in place during the week of February 7, 2000.  DPL sent their database for authority control and the revised records have already been reloaded in their CARL system. . 

 

All testing is being done in a prototype database on a server at III.  There will be three phases of testing the CARL record load:

 

·         First, there will be a test transfer of individual bibliographic, item, summary serials holdings and acquisition records to see if they are properly formatted.  

·         Second, volume testing will load 40,000 to 50,000 records to determine if the Inn-Reach system can handle the volume. Denver Public Library staff as well as the Cataloging Reference Committee will review records in the test database.  The Committee will assist in identifying mutually held records (NYT lists, popular titles) so we can see if they properly display and overlay existing records in the test system.   A test WebPac will be available for viewing and evaluating.  George will send access instructions when ready.

·         Third, there will be test of  "re-queuing of requests” which will test the interaction between the CARL and Inn-Reach software. 

 

All testing should be done in Feb. and March.  The exact dates for the live load will depend on the success of the tests and any recoding which may need to be done by either III or the Alliance.  

 

Initially, the DPL load will include 700,000 records in their library catalog.  At a later date additional records will be loaded from their Marcive reference database as well as the Western History Photodigitization Project database.  Loading the main DPL database will take a month and should be fully loaded by late Spring 2000.   Regis University will follow the load of DPL records and their database is expected to take 10 days to load.  The Alliance is hiring a new programmer to help with the circulation portion of the CARL/III interface on Prospector.

 

  1. Prospector Problems:  ALL Prospector problems reported to III should be copied to George Machovec (gmachove@coalliance.org) and preferably also on the appropriate Prospector listserv for circulation or cataloging.  For example, DU/Law is on Millennium Serials from III and discovered that editing SerLev 3 "Lib Has" statements do not automatically move up to Prospector.  The Prospector system is not yet on Release 2000 and a migration date has not been established.

 

  1. NetLibrary:   The Alliance has acquired 5000 titles from netLibrary and is on a patron-driven acquisition model for new ebooks not already purchased.  One Alliance "feeder" site (i.e. CUB) will load all of the MARC records from netLibrary and "percolate" them up to Prospector.  When CU/Boulder loads the netLibrary OCLC record collection set it will use BCODE3 ‘g’ for the netLibrary records. The holdings will display as "Prospector Resource" in the Prospector WebPac.  The Committee recommended that the wording be changed to "Alliance Resource" for more clarity.  Problems with system-wide record sharing still being worked out with OCLC.  At this point OCLC would charge a "set holdings" fee for individual libraries to locally load these records in their local catalogs.  As individual libraries load records for netLibrary resources into their local catalogs, local holdings will be reflected in Prospector in addition to the shared resource record.  Colorado College has loaded over 2,000 netLibrary MARC records and these are in Prospector now with their individual holdings indicated

 

On February 29, 2000 a tour of netLibrary (followed by a free lunch) will be held.  After the tour and lunch break out discussion groups will be held. Everyone is encouraged to attend this program.

 

  1. CARL Training: CARL sites need training on III structure and searching.  A subcommittee was formed with Joan Beam, Bill Garrison, Judith Heck and George Machovec.  This group will meet at 11:30 for lunch on Feb. 24, 2000 (before the regular Committee meeting at 1:00pm.) 

 

  1. Enhancements to Inn Reach: The focus of next meeting on Feb. 24, 2000 will be to work on an enhancement list to submit to the national Inn-Reach planning process.  

 

  1. Future meetings:  All future Prospector Cataloging Reference Committee meetings will be held from 1:00pm to 3:30pm (one half hour earlier than before) to give more meeting time.  George will send requests to both Prospector listservs for ideas for next year's enhancements list to be sent in by February 21st.

 

Submitted by Joan Beam with modifications by George Machovec and Helen Reed

February 9, 2000