MicroCheck: for catalog conversion and updating
| Date | 01 February 1985 |
| Published date | 01 February 1985 |
| Pages | 90-91 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb044646 |
| Author | Ann Allan,Michael Kreychem |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
MicroCheck:
for
catalog conversion
and
updating
MicroCheck is provided by the vendor, a company that sells books,
library supplies and automated services to libraries, as part of a catalog
conversion service that company offers. That is, converting catalog
records to machine-readable form. The vendor maintains computer-
stored cataloging records. During the conversion process these are
matched against the customer library's own cataloging
records.
The price
of the conversion process is based on the number of matches anticipated
between these two sets of records.
MicroCheck runs on IBM/PC, Apple IIe, TRS-80, Zenith A89, and
other micro/personal computers. There is no separate fee for this soft-
ware package. It is available from Brodart, 1609 Memorial Avenue,
Williamsport, PA 17705, USA. Tel. (800) 233-8467.
ANN ALLAN
MICHAEL
KREYCHE
SOFT
WARE
review
F
or libraries to automate they must
convert their existing records for
bibliographic control, namely
catalog cards, into machine-
readable form. Such projects are
referred to as retrospective conversion
projects. Many libraries that are members of
cataloging networks such as OCLC, RLIN,
or WLN already have a large portion, if not
all,
of their cataloging records in machine-
readable form. Nevertheless, vast numbers
of libraries either have never become
members of these networks or have become
members, but do not have cataloging in
machine-readable form for the years prior to
joining the network. In addition there are
growing numbers of libraries that maintain
computer-output microform catalogs that are
generated from machine-readable form. One
is directly online with the library inputting
the cataloging data. Another approach is to
send cataloging to
a
vendor for conversion. In
this case a tape is produced that must then be
integrated into an existing system.
A third approach, and one that
is
addressed
in this review, is when a library inputs
abbreviated data on a microcomputer and
sends to the vendor floppy disks to match
against a Marc file of machine-readable
cataloging. For those that match, the full
record is copied from the file, merged with
local data supplied on the floppy disk and re-
turned to the library for editing.
A problem arises when the library has a
record in card form, that does not exist in the
vendor's machine-readable files. One of the
issues that goes into selecting the correct
vendor for this service is the size of the
vendor's machine-readable file and the like
lihood of
a
high number of matches or 'hits'.
When there
is
no match, the entire
cataloging
record must be input manually.
Most vendors will loan the library micro,
computers on a rent-free basis for a
specified
period of time. The number of micro-
computers loaned is generally determined
by
the number of titles to be converted.
The final product is a record of some or all
of the library's holdings. This takes the form
of an online catalog, a COM (computer-
output microform) catalog, a machine-
readable tape, a hard copy version or a
combination which is generally an online
version plus a COM to use when the compu-
ter system is not operating.
Functions
of
the package
MicroCheck is a largely menu-driven pro-
gram that assists in the conversion process.
Seven options are available from its main
menu. The "New diskette" option formats
a
blank disk or erases old data from one
Brodart has returned to the library. "Change
diskette" allows switching disks when one
gets full, or changing the operator identifi-
cation. The remaining menu options pertain
to the entry of different types of data onto
the
floppy disks being sent to the vendor.
One of the functions of the program is to
provide Brodart with selected bibliographic
information for items needing machine-
readable cataloging. Typically this infor-
mation includes author, title, Library of
Congress card number and ISBN. Brodart
calls these brief descriptions "search ex-
tracts"
and uses them to search its database
for full cataloging records. The library re-
ceives a printed report of the search results
and then uses two of MicroCheck's other
functions to complete the cataloging process,
whether or not Brodart was able to find a
record for an individual item to complete
the
cataloging process.
The first of the functions is the entry of
original cataloging for titles for which
Brodart cannot provide bibliographic records
or hits. This part of the program works the
same way as the entry of the search extracts.
Default Marc tags and indicators are
selected by the library to appear as prompts
and are built into the program. As each
numeric tag appears on the screen, an abbre-
viated field description is printed in the
upper right corner of the display (for
example, "Edition Stmt." for the 250 field).
The default prompts can be modified or left
unused and different fields can easily be
entered manually.
The second function, maintenance trans-
action, is used to select records found by the
90 The Electronic Library, April 1985.
Vol.
3, No. 2.
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