MARC import

Learn how to import data in the MARC format using the XML Import tool.

Overview

MARC stands for Machine Readable Catalogue and is a format for recording bibliographic information. MARC is the data standard used by libraries throughout the world that enables them to exchange data.

For more information, visit the Library of Congress website.

How to use the MARC configuration record

  1. With the XML Import Configuration window open, in the Search bar, enter marc master and press Enter.

  2. The Marc Import Master (MARC_MASTER) record will open.

  3. On the toolbar, in the Record section, click New, then click Copy, and then click Yes when the system asks if you want to overwrite the data (by default, the text EN appears in the Name field in the new record, so this is why the system asks).

  4. Your new configuration record will contain all the details from the MARC_MASTER record.

  5. In the Name field, change the MARC Import Master name to something specific to your import.

  6. In the Default Import File field, change the file to your MARC import file. Vernon CMS relies on the MARC ".dat" or ".mrc" formats, which are plain-text MARC files.

  7. Optional: Vernon CMS has a MARC-to-XML converter which facilitates the use of the XML Import tool to import MARC records. An XML file is first created from the MARC file, and is then imported into Vernon CMS. To use the converter, under Import File Pre-Conversion, select Pre-Convert MARC to MARCXML.

  8. On the Field Mappings tab, review the mapped fields and add mappings for any other additional MARC fields you wish to import into Vernon CMS.

  9. Optional: In the Validation column of the field mapping table, enter any validation routines.

  10. Click Save.

For other types of XML you may need to have the system pre-convert the data on import using an XSLT file.