Bad record – 590 upgrade

Bad bib records exist. 

Prepub record imported in error from SmartPort

Bad bib records exist in SmartPort and they exist in our shared catalog. 

If you see a bad record in smart port– no 3oo fields, no subject headings, bad formatting, wrong description (online resource in the 300 field instead of a page count)– the best solution is to not import the record.  Look for a better record.  Scan the ISBN into a google search to verify a new book has been released and put the item aside if it hasn’t. 

Placeholder records are released before a book is published.  They aren’t meant to be used long term. 

If you need a better record and you don’t see one and the title has been released and there’s a patron standing in front of you who wants it, go ahead and add a brief title.  In the 590 field write the word upgrade.  Make sure I have the information I need to improve the record:  ISBN in 020 field and page count or number of discs in 300 field. 

If you need a better record and you don’t see one and no one is standing in front of you, give a newly released title 72 hours and look again.  Big publishers will have a good record ready for you. 

If there’s still no decent record, request one from me.  Your patrons deserve the best!  Title, author, ISBN and page count is usually all the information I need.  (See earlier post on how to request a bib record.)

If you find a bad record in our catalog, flag it by adding a 590 field with the word upgrade.  (To add a field, use Modify title wizard, click on a field near where you want to add a add a field, then right click your mouse.)  If you have a second, add a note and your initials; that’s helpful. 

How to add a 590 note: 1. Select Modify title wizard, 2. click on field above or below, 3. right click to add new field