Alexandria Set Up Choices: Centralized Union Catalog

A Centralized Union Catalog holds different library collections in a singular data file housed on a central server. This gives management control to an Administrator. All updates, upgrades, data backups, and other management procedures are performed for the entire district at a centralized location. Even though all data is centralized on a main server, patrons have the ability to search an individual library, a group of libraries, or the entire district at once, in real-time. As there is one central patron database, Central Union allows most convenient access for inter-library loans (ILL). Groups considering Centralized Union should plan to address overlapping barcode ranges, policies, preferences and cataloging. When considering add-on features, all libraries must subscribe to the same services.