Profile Guide Step 3.12
Sometimes a library has local authority records with local rules governing their relationship to the bibliographic record. The MARS 2.0 authority software can recognize your library’s local authority file and govern its matching criteria according to what your library needs.
Contents
Step 3.12 Question
Local Authority File Matched Before National File
An example of a library using a form of a heading that is in conflict with the form chosen by LC. This occurs most often for series titles. For example, if your library decided to use the following heading in a set of bibliographic records:
440 0 $aWest Group’s tax practice series
This is in conflict with the cross-reference in the LC authority record for this title:
010 $an 00090467 130 0 $aTax practice series (St. Paul, Minn.) 430 0 $aWest Group’s tax practice series
Normally, a heading that matches a 4XX See From tracing in an LC authority record would convert to the authorized form in the authority record 1XX field. To prevent this heading flip, you must provide a file of locally generated authority records against which your headings are matched first.
If a heading first matches a local authority record, it will not convert based on the LC authority. No further matching occurs when a bibliographic heading matches a heading in a local authority record. The heading form established according to local practice is retained.
Local Authority File Matched After National File
Matching after a National file is useful for situations where the heading is special to the library and, while it may not be authorized yet by the National file, the library does not want to see the particular heading showing up in the R07 – Unmatched Primary Headings report (see Step 5 of the Planning Guide). This is especially helpful when the not-yet-authorized heading appears in multiple bibliographic records.
If you want to preserve these local authority records and do not want this file matched against the national databases choose “Match Before National File.” If neither of the above options fit your local authority file needs choose “Special Local Authority Matching” and contact your MARS 2.0 representative to explain how you would like the file used (e.g., to override LC headings, or to be updated as part of the Re-Master process).
Local Heading Matching
If your library has an established MARC authority file that you want to incorporate into your MARS 2.0 master authority file please choose “Local Authority Master” in Step 3.12.
Note: You will need to send us a MARC file of these records before we process your basefile.
