Koha System

Is Your Catalogue Ready for Koha? A Pre-Migration Checklist

A practical pre-migration checklist for libraries preparing catalogue records for Koha.

May 12, 2026 3 min read

Before migrating to Koha, it is worth checking whether your catalogue data is ready for import. This checklist helps libraries identify common issues before starting a full migration.

You do not need perfect data before you begin. But the earlier you find problems, the easier they are to plan around.

1. Can you export your catalogue?

Check what your current system can export. Useful formats include MARC21 binary, MARCXML, CSV, Excel, TSV, and JSON. If your current vendor or system administrator controls exports, ask for a sample early.

2. Do you have bibliographic records?

Check whether your export includes: Title, Author, ISBN, Publisher, Publication year, Edition, Subjects, Notes, Language, and Physical description.

3. Do you have item records?

Check whether your export includes: Barcode, Branch, Shelving location, Item type, Call number, Copy number, Status, and Replacement price if used.

Item data is essential for circulation. A catalogue with good titles but missing barcodes may still need significant preparation before go-live.

4. Are barcodes unique?

Before migration, check: Are all item barcodes unique? Are any barcodes blank? Are there temporary or placeholder barcodes? Are barcode formats consistent?

5. Are branch and location values consistent?

Koha uses structured branch, shelving location, and item type values. Check for inconsistent values such as “Main, MAIN, Main Library” where one consistent branch code should be chosen.

6. Are there duplicate bibliographic records?

Duplicate bibliographic records may appear when: multiple copies were exported as separate records, old imports created duplicates, ISBN matching was inconsistent, or different editions were not clearly separated.

7. Are local fields documented?

If your system uses local fields, document what they mean. Local fields may contain useful data, but they should be reviewed before import.

8. Is patron data separated from catalogue data?

Do not mix patron data with bibliographic records. Before uploading files to MARCReady or sending data for migration, separate: bibliographic records, item records, patron records, circulation history, and fines and payments.

9. Have you tested a sample?

A good sample includes: new and old records, records with and without ISBNs, multiple item types, multiple branches or locations, records with local fields, records with special characters or accented text, and records with multiple copies.

10. Have you planned a Koha test import?

After preparing records, stage a sample in Koha. Review: import errors, matching rules, item handling, OPAC display, staff display, search results, barcode and item data, and branch and item type values.