Understanding Cataloging Workflows
MyOPAC provides tiered cataloging support to accommodate both general administrative staff and professional catalogers. Depending on the task complexity, you can choose between two main approaches:
- Simple Book Creation (Add Book): A simplified form featuring standard book attributes (Title, Author, Publisher, Year, Classification). It abstracts away standard MARC tags behind a clean, user-friendly UI.
- MARC21 Standard Cataloging: Direct interaction with machine-readable cataloging fields. Fully integrates indicators, subfield codes (e.g., $a, $b, $c), and custom bibliographic control fields.
Direct MARC21 Editing Modes
When using the advanced cataloger editor at /librarian/books/new, you can dynamically switch between editing views depending on your screen size or preference:
- Single Page Mode: Displays the complete tag stack (000–999) on a single scrollable sheet. This is optimal for keyboard-driven quick revisions and copy-paste editing.
- 9 Pages Tabbed Mode: Distributes the MARC fields into numeric tabs (0xx Control, 1xx Main Entry, 2xx Title/Edition, 3xx Physical Description, 4xx Series, 5xx Notes, 6xx Subject Access, 7xx Added Entries, 8xx Series Added, and 9xx Local Fields). This offers a highly structured layout for detailed, field-by-field reviews.
Configurable Frameworks & Control Values
Catalogers can control record validation and default configurations using administrative frameworks:
- MARC Frameworks: Pre-define which tags/subfields are visible, mandatory, or repeatable for different item formats (e.g., Audio, Maps, Serials, or standard Books).
- Authorized Values: Attach dropdown selectors to specific subfields (such as Collection Codes or Shelving Locations) to enforce cataloging consistency.