Bibliographic Conversion and Member Data Entry

This section attempts to establish an implementation of successful retrospective conversion project. Retrospective conversion is the process by which bibliographic records are converted to machine-readable form so that they can be integrated into the database that is the very foundation of the services that the Library provides. Retrospective conversion is typically accomplished by one or a combination of two basic methods: matching and extracting machine-readable records from a resource file or keying records directly into a database. Both of these can be performed locally by well trained library staff. The aim is to convert the bibliographic catalog of the University Libraries into MARC 21 format.

• Identification of the bibliographic records on the card catalog
• Identification of the source for the conversion: shelf list versus public access catalog.
• Prepare guidelines for the conversion
• Provide bibliographic data conversion and online cataloging trainings for the library staff.
• Adding the bibliographic information into the automated library database
• Adding holding information into the database for each record.
• Assigning subject headings for each of the converted record.