Tip of the Week

Tip for: 01.17.2005

How SmartMARC Can Help Your Library

Summary: We want to respond to user questions about SmartMARC on the AlexNet listserv . Cataloging can be a very time consuming process. COMPanion Corporation has made this task easier through its SmartMARC software. SmartMARC allows users to search other libraries for records using ISBN, LCCN, Title, Author, etc. These records can then be saved and imported into Alexandria or other library systems. Preferences can also be set to have the records saved directly to an Alexandria database.

SmartMARC Features

Users can search many different databases. A few recommended sites include Penn State University, Boston Public Metro Network, Florida State Library, and the Marin Public Library in California. You can experiment with different databases to find the best ones for your library.

Another helpful SmartMARC feature is being able to do a match against an export file from Alexandria. SmartMARC will search for the titles in the file in order to update them. You can also set several searches at once using the Queue Search mode. This gives you the opportunity to type in several titles, and then go do other things while SmartMARC does the searching for you.

The newest version of SmartMARC offers the ability to view the time before the search times out [unclear what you mean here], as well as how many records have been located and accepted while the search is happening. You can also change the amount of time devoted to each database before it times out and moves on. Take a look at the Set Database preference window.

Figure 1. The Set Database window used to set the database to search, as well as Timeout settings.

Figure 2. The SmartMARC Search window used for setting the search criteria, as well as the time left before searching times out and what records have been found.

Go to Edit, then Preferences.

Use the drop-down menu to choose Set database.

Click on the Address Book button.

With the database you were searching showing, click the Test button near the bottom right of the screen.

You will receive a message telling you the speed of the connection, or if there is no response.

If no response is received, select a different database and try the search again.