MASSCAT AND UNION LIST
MassCat
Five of the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems (Central, Metrowest, Northeast, Southeastern, and Western) have formed MassCat, a single catalog of the holdings of their member libraries that are not affiliated with one of the existing automated networks. The MassCat catalog is used to identify and support the sharing of library resources between libraries in MassCat and libraries statewide, as part of the Virtual Library Catalog of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. A Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from each of the five Regions, as well as member librarians, governs this database.
MassCat Policies
Approved by the MassCat Executive Committee
September 22, 1999
The following policies have been adopted for participation in
MassCat.
- Libraries must be members of a Massachusetts Regional Library System in
order to become a member of MassCat.
- MassCat members will have access to various services, including, but
not limited to:
- public access catalog;
- functionality associated with the emerging Massachusetts Virtual Library
Catalog;
- bibliographic records;
- cataloging and conversion;
- interlibrary loan;
- statistics on library holdings and interlibrary loan activity; and
- Regional delivery service, or at least strong consideration of same.
- The library is responsible for having sufficient Internet access and an
electronic mail account to enable it to participate in MassCat.
- MassCat members will agree to pay on an annual basis any membership
fees that may be established by the Executive Committee. Members will be
notified of annual fees for the forthcoming fiscal year by the end of October
of the current fiscal year. Payment for services will be required by members
within 30 days of receipt.
- Other fees (e.g., record upgrades, deduplication of records, authority
control, record extraction, etc.) are to be paid by members within 30 days
of receipt.
- Libraries must commit to add their new acquisitions to
MassCat.
They may, but are not required to, add their retrospective holdings. Members
are also expected to keep holdings information current and to delete
withdrawn holdings on a regular basis.
- Libraries must have their staff trained in how to use
MassCat
system and services effectively.
- Libraries must comply with ILL and cataloging requirements as set by the
Executive Committee.
- Termination of membership is permitted by either party with 90 days’
notice. Departing libraries must comply with Executive Committee policies on
withdrawal of records and associated costs.
Applications for MassCat
Union List of Serials
As of July 1, 1999, the Metrowest Regional Office
assumed responsibility for the editing and production of that portion of the EMRLS Union
List of Serials representing the holdings of Metrowest participants. The Union List
is now available from OCLC FirstSearch.
For more information, contact the Metrowest Regional Office:
Phone: 781-398-1819
888-383-8882
FAX: 781-398-1821
Contact Person: Sunny Vandermark
E-mail: svanderm@mmrls.org
WEB Site:www.mmrls.org