Frequently asked questions

Bibliographic Record Notification frequently asked questions

General questions

• What is the cost of Bibliographic Record Notification?
  

  Bibliographic Record Notification is now covered under subscription pricing.

• How does my library sign up?
  

  Complete the Bibliographic Record Notification Order/Options form (PDF).

  If you want to receive upgraded records via EDX, you must complete an EDX Assessment form. After your account is set up, OCLC works with you to set schedules for receiving upgraded records.

• Can I receive catalog cards from Bib Note records?
  

  No. Few users require catalog cards for Bibliographic Record Notification records. You can generate catalog cards by performing a Produce on the upgraded record after importing it to the Connexion save file (OCLC charges the standard fee for this action.)

• What does the Bibliographic Record Notification service offer?
  
  Bibliographic Record Notification eases cataloging maintenance by automatically delivering upgraded OCLC-MARC records to your library-including records with Table of Contents (TOC) data. Every day Bibliographic Record Notification compares all newly upgraded OCLC records with records your library holds.

Upgraded records

• What are my upgrading options?
  

  Your library can choose to receive two types of OCLC-MARC record upgrades:

  1. OCLC-MARC records in which the 505 field (Table of Contents) has been added, enhanced or deleted
  2. OCLC-MARC records that have been upgraded from minimal- to full-level cataloging
• If we upgrade a record, will we get that record via Bibliographic Record Notification?
  
  Yes. If your library upgrades a minimal-level record to full level, your library receives the record via Bibliographic Record Notification. If you do not want these records,  mark the appropriate section of the Bibliographic Record Notification Order/Options form (PDF).
• Do I receive all upgraded records added since joining OCLC?
  

  No. Your library receives only records that have been upgraded from the time you start the service.

  You receive records that include your OCLC symbol by the method you specify on the Bibliographic Record Notification Order/Options form (PDF).

• Do I receive upgraded fields or the full MARC record?
  

  You receive entire OCLC-MARC records in which you can:

  • Have the call number field moved to another location in the MARC record to assure that the record does not overwrite your locally assigned call number
  • Add a local note to one field in the 9xx range
  • Delete the 5xx, 6xx, 7xx, and 8xx fields

Fields

• When is field 505 enhanced?
  

  Field 505 is enhanced when there is a change in the first or second indicator (or both) of the master record as follows:

  Indicator	Changed to:
  First   1 (Incomplete contents)   2 (Partial contents)   8 (No print constant provided)	0 (Entire contents)      0 (Entire contents)      0 (Entire contents)
  Second   Blank (Basic)	0 (Enhanced)

   

Processing

• Can I exclude formats from my Bibliographic Record Notification profile?
  
  Yes. In Option 1 of the Bibliographic Record Notification Order/Options form (PDF), you can limit delivery of upgraded records by bibliographic format. You also can limit delivery by encoding level and publication date. For example, your library may choose to receive only OCLC-MARC records that are upgraded from encoding level 8 in books (bks) format, from 1990 forward.
• How do I receive records?
  

  You receive records by any of the following delivery methods:

  • Daily by Electronic Data Exchange (EDX) system. You must have an EDX account. See How does my library sign up?
  • From the OCLC Product Services Web (PSWeb).
  • You can also download a Bibliographic Record Notification report that summarizes the type and quantity of records you received. You access the report from the OCLC Product Services Web.
• Can my system process Bibliographic Record Notification records?
  

  Any local system that can load complete OCLC-MARC records should be able to load Bibliographic Record Notification records.

  Note: You must protect local information added to bibliographic records so that the Bibliographic Record Notification records do not overwrite it.

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