Name: Bibliographic Utility Policy
Status: Approved
Last revised: June 1, 2022
Written by: Cathy Weng, Marsha Clark, Lisa Tappeiner
Policy:
OCLC is the bibliographic utility used by the CUNY Libraries.
CUNY libraries should create and edit bibliographic records in OCLC using Connexion rather than in Alma. Libraries across the world continuously improve OCLC records and the CUNY Network Zone (NZ) is updated daily to reflect these changes. Any edits to the NZ performed locally will be overwritten by these daily updates.
- The Connexion client is preferred over the browser as diacritics and symbols do not always transfer properly from the browser.
- The match point in the NZ is the OCLC control number (MARC field 035 $a).
- Local notes may be added to bibliographic records in the Alma Institution Zone (IZ), rather than Connexion, and are called local extensions in the Metadata Editor. Common local extensions are 590 and 690.
- If no record exists for an item in OCLC: 1) catalogers should contribute a full bibliographic record to OCLC and export this record to the NZ. 2) non-catalogers should create a bibliographic record in the IZ with as much information as possible. These IZ records should be replaced with full bibliographic records in NZ as full bib records become available in OCLC.
- CUNY catalogers are encouraged to participate in training offered by the Office of Library Services, outside groups such as PCC, and share questions and concerns at monthly cataloging meetings and on the tech services listserv.
- CUNY catalogers are encouraged to actively contribute to the OCLC shared catalog when they are able by contributing new records and updating and enhancing existing records.