Merging Bibliographic Records

Sitka Training Video - Merging Duplicate Bibliographic Records (5:10)

This section will demonstrate merging bibliographic records in the catalogue. A common application for this functionality is to replace brief records with full records to keep one bibliographic record for one title.

Any call number and item records, or holds, associated with the non-lead records will be transferred to the lead record upon merging.

  1. Through a catalogue search identify records to be merged and add them to your basket by checking the boxes beside the relevant records in the search results list.

    images/cat/merge-records-1.png
  2. From the Basket Actions drop down menu select Add Basket to Bucket.

    images/cat/merge-records-2.png
  3. On the pop-up that appears select the New Bucket tab.
  4. Enter a name for your bucket. Support recommends using the title of the records you are merging.
  5. Click Add to New Bucket.

    images/cat/merge-records-3.png
  6. Retrieve the bucket by selecting Cataloguing → Record Buckets on the menu bar.
  7. Click the drop down arrow beside Buckets, then select the bucket containing the records to be merged.

    images/cat/merge-records-4.png
  8. Select the records you wish to merge. Click Actions → Merge Selected Records.

    images/cat/merge-records-5.png
  9. The merge screen opens in a pop-up window.

    1. The record summary is listed above. You may shorten it by clicking the double arrows.
    2. Clicking Toggle Holdings Display will display the holdings information below each MARC record.

      images/cat/merge-records-6.png
  10. If after comparing the MARC records you determine that any of them are not a match for merging click Remove from consideration. The record will no longer be included in the merge.

    images/cat/merge-records-8.png
  11. Leave the merge profile as "Keep Local Fields". Any 050, 055, 092, 590, 595, 690, 852, and 856 fields from non-lead records will be moved to the lead record.

    images/cat/merge-records-7.png
  12. From the remaining records determine which is the best record and click Use as lead record.

    images/cat/merge-records-9.png
  13. Edit buttons will appear for the lead record. You can edit the record if edits are necessary. Any edits need to follow Sitka Cataloguing Policy.

    images/cat/merge-records-10.png
  14. Click Merge. The lead record will open in the catalogue in a new tab.

Note

While you can edit call numbers and/or items from the merge screen, Co-op Support recommends you focus on bibliographic records here. After the merging is done, you can edit your call numbers and items through the Holdings Editor.

Caution

Deleted records will remain in a record Bucket. We recommend you merge records right after you add them to the bucket. If you merge them later, good practice is to check the Deleted column in the bucket before merging to avoid merging records into a deleted record.

Copyright © 2008-2018, BC Libraries Cooperative