Library Collection Management

Maximize Access—Support Materials

Editing & Enhancing MARC Records

The reason to edit or enhance a MARC record is to increase student and staff access to materials in collection, through better keyword searches.

Prime targets for enhancing MARC records are short story collections, biography collections, folklore and legends, or chapters of general books in the science area. Brief MARC records in the catalog would also be more useful as complete records. Adding a book award (Sasquatch, Washington Children's Choice) as a subject heading might also be useful for students and teachers, as would adding Accelerated Reader color-coding.

1. Open Follett Programs/Cataloging

2. Open the MARC record for the book to be edited, with a title or author search.

3. Editing/enhancing suggestions:
   1. For new books, after record has been added to system:
      • Add review source(s) at 510 tag
      • Check local call number at 900 tag Decide if it matches the collection, or if re-classifying is needed
      • Check subject headings in 650 and 651 tagsAdd, delete or revise to match collection
      • Add copy informationCheck accuracy of price, circulation period, etc (see categories, below)
      • Save
   2. Further suggestions for enhancement of records, as books arrive or later
      • Add Contents Notes (505 tag), naming chapter titles, or topics, for such books as Story Collections, Collected biographies, Plays, Mythology, Books covering numerous animals.

      Format example: 505 2 0 _a Peter Rabbit -- Three pigs – Cinderella

• Check subject headings for usefulness to local collection. Add (from Sears List of Subject Headings ) or revise
• Check to make sure there is a Summary (520 tag)
• Add an Electronic Location and Access tag (856) to link to a specific Internet site that would supplement a particular title
• For award-winning books, add an Awards Note (586 tag)
• For Accelerated Reader books, add level color on Series tag (440)

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