Rick,

A quick reply here and then I will try and find time to share more later. The key aspect to working with/potentially changing any master record in OCLC is the mantra "do no harm!" That means unless there are actual errors in the record or missing information needing to be added, particularly when it comes to access points, we should never second-guess the original cataloger. Another important factor is to know under which cataloging rules the record was created because what might appear to be "wrong" in a given case may be perfectly fine under an older set of rules like AACR2 (the code found in the "Desc" fixed field is the guide here). 

You bring up several other aspects related to what and who can change master records in OCLC that I don't have time to touch at the moment. That's where I can share more information later on. 

As for your workflow process of downloading copy from OCLC and making changes to a record within Workflows in Sirsi (we are a Sirsi unit as well) that is probably the best method for you to be using given the lack of understanding of OCLC master records. Within your own local system you are free to do whatever you want or need to do with a given record. If at some point you gain a better understanding of the master record mechanism in OCLC I would recommend doing changes in OCLC so that others benefit from your work as well as yourself, but don't go there until you are confident about the "do's and don'ts" of making changes to those master records.

Paige
From: "Rick Grapes" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2015 1:19:08 PM
Subject: Thanks and another quesiton

Hi all,

 

I would like to express my thanks for all the input sent my way about the lat/long question and my one map with 2 scales front and back situation.  I now know what “|2bounding” means. 

 

Years ago when I was in library school and working as a student in the map collection, I used to calculate the lat/long for map after map after map, using a meter stick and calculator.  Went thru lots of gray matter and batteries.  I hated it.  Once I became maps cataloger, I avoided calculating lat/long whenever I had the slightest excuse.  Now with the bounding site, the trauma of my  youth is eliminated.  Yeah! 

 

One of the responses mentioned briefly we should avoid cluttering up of OCLC.  This brought to my mind another question regarding the impact of cataloging work on OCLC. 

 

First off, let me say that I have a general/limited understanding of OCLC’s master and institutional record setup.  I regularly import from OCLC and then do all my work locally in Sirsi.  I’ve tried cataloging directly in OCLC, but my senior moments cause lots of mistakes.  “Old dog new tricks …”  Thus I’ve returned to what I know best.  But I’m unclear on what impact my work, importing, changing, and exporting, might be having on OCLC.  Will the record be automatically linked to the master record, no matter what I do?  Is it possible to upgrade an existing institution or master record, inserting improvements, without permission of the originating institution?  What fields do I need to keep or leave unchanged so that I’m assured the record will be linked to the existing master?  And the opposite is true.  When should I avoid linking to the master?  I’m just concerned that a record might be inadvertently overlaid, or a dissimilar record might be linked to a master incorrectly. 

I’m probably straining at knates here.   I’m also exposing my ignorance.  Please be gentile. J

 

Thanks for your help. Again!

Rick Grapes

BYU Map Collection