UNION CATALOGUE SYSTEM FOR RESOURCE DISCOVERY AMONG THE COLLEGE LIBRARIES OF ASSAM: A MODEL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34256/Keywords:
Union catalogue, Open-source software, Integrated library systems (ILS), MARC formatAbstract
A union catalogue is a collaborative collection of catalogue records from various libraries specifically designed to facilitate resource sharing among them. The initial step in developing a union catalogue involves carefully compiling bibliographic material in standardised formats, including essential and optional bibliographic data components, or metadata, for books from member institutions. Establishing a union catalogue for the college libraries of Assam is currently a pressing necessity. However, this endeavour requires significant technical and professional resources, as the college libraries in Assam employ different Integrated Library System (ILS) packages, such as SOUL and Koha, for their automated functions. This paper advocates for creating a union catalogue for the college libraries of Assam, a northeastern state of India, suggesting that it could serve as a model for the rest of India and globally. Furthermore, the study explores several technical considerations, including methodology, data migration, and other relevant factors in establishing the union catalogue. By pursuing this initiative, we can significantly enhance collaboration and resource accessibility among libraries in our region.
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