Copy cataloging is one of the most useful tools your library system has (or should have). It works by importing ready made MARC records from external sources like the Library of Congress. This will make cataloging much faster and easier, saving you time and money in the long run. But to use copy cataloging, you first need to connect to a z39.50 server.

Koha comes with an inbuilt z39.50 module – all you need to do is add the configuration details for the servers you want. There is no limit to how many server you can add but I advise that you only add high quality servers from trusted sources. The Library of Congress and British Library are great options – you will find MARC records for most books and you can be confident that the bibliographic and authority records you retrieve from them are of the highest quality possible.

Some of these servers (such as the British Library) may require authentication – so you may need to contact them to ask for a username and password in order for you to be able to access the servers. Others may be out of date so make sure to double-check the details.

I hope you will find this list useful – after you’ve chosen the z39.50 servers you want to integrate into your library, read this article to find out how to configure them properly.  . If you have some others you would like to share, do so in the comments section! 

Copy cataloging is one of the most useful tools your library system has (or should have). It works by importing ready made MARC records from external sources like the Library of Congress. This will make cataloging much faster and easier, saving you time and money in the long run. But to use copy cataloging, you first need to connect to a z39.50 server.

Koha comes with an inbuilt z39.50 module – all you need to do is add the configuration details for the servers you want. There is no limit to how many server you can add but I advise that you only add high quality servers from trusted sources. The Library of Congress and British Library are great options – you will find MARC records for most books and you can be confident that the bibliographic and authority records you retrieve from them are of the highest quality possible.

Some of these servers (such as the British Library) may require authentication – so you may need to contact them to ask for a username and password in order for you to be able to access the servers. Others may be out of date so make sure to double-check the details.

I hope you will find this list useful – after you’ve chosen the z39.50 servers you want to integrate into your library, read this article to find out how to configure them properly.  . If you have some others you would like to share, do so in the comments section!