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CatExpress : CatExpress options : Record delivery

Choices for receiving bibliographic records

Records reflecting your CatExpress copy cataloging activity, used to maintain your local circulation systems or online public access or other catalogs, can be obtained in two ways.

MARC Subscription Service (MSS)

EMS combines records from all CatExpress sessions in a 24-hour period and creates a single file of your institution's cataloging transactions that can be downloaded the next day, either from within the CatExpress interface or from OCLC's Product Services Web site. E-mail notification of file availability is an option, and files remain archived and accessible for 90 days.

In addition to records you create, EMS records include all other records created on behalf of your institution, regardless of their source. These might include Union listing or cataloging agents; Language Set orders; TechPro activity; and holdings deletions.When you order MSS, you can choose not to receive copies of the records from which you deleted holdings.

CatExpress Export

CatExpress Export is an alternative record delivery method. Unlike MSS, which batches records in a single, daily file, CatExpress Export creates and makes available a file of records immediately upon completion of a CatExpress session.

CatExpress Export creates a file that is available immediately after your session. Files continue to append until they are downloaded. Files are backed up at OCLC and are available for 30 days. Institutions that have a single authorization for cataloging will collect all records in a single file. Institutions that have multiple authorizations can choose to collect a single file at the institution symbol level or to collect separate files at the authorization number level.

Which delivery option should my library use?

The following table offers guidelines on deciding which record delivery option is suited to your library:

CatExpress Export MARC Subscription Service (MSS)
Your library picks up and loads its own records Records are picked up for the library by third party; they may be loaded into a shared system
You consistently need same-day record loading You only load records sporadically
Your local system can not handle records of holdings deletions Your local system can handle records for all types of transactions or you can choose to receive files which do not include records from which your holdings have been deleted
You are skilled in naming and handling record files You rely on others for file manipulation, or your system can accept default file names
Your cataloger also does the file retrieval and record loading The person doing the file retrieval and record loading is not necessarily the one doing the cataloging
You have your own file recovery/file backup system Your rely on OCLC Product Services Web to archive files
One authorization does all the work You need to have activity from all sessions/users combined into a single file
Your local system does not have automated FTP capability You prefer automated FTP retrieval