Integrations

Estimated time: 15 minutes

Overview

Questions

• What are integrations?
• What work can integrations support?

Objectives

• Explain what integrations are
• Explain how integrations support advanced record actions
• Illustrate integrations with OCLC

Integrations

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MarcEdit can interface (or integrate) with other applications. Integrations with other cataloguing utilities, such as vendor ILS and LSP systems and OCLC WorldCat, support advanced actions, including downloading records, pushing new records or record updates, and setting holdings (OCLC WorldCat). Currently, MarcEdit can integrate with the ILS Alma, Koha, or a local ILS if you can connect to the host database. MarcEdit can be set up to integrate with OCLC’s APIs for metadata and connect to OCLC or the Library of Congress (UTF-8 or MARC8) Z39.50 services.

For the ILS integrations you will need one or some of the following:

• Host URL of the database
• Username and password
• OCLC Connexion username and password
• Token
• API Key

Integration with an ILS

At this time, MarcEdit supports integrations with the ILS Alma and Koha. The ILS integration will require you to request an API key from your systems person, your ILS vendor, or your hosting vendor. For additional support setting up the integration, you may leverage your vendor or user group community. For example, for Alma, you can reach out to the Alma listserv to get guidance or to the Alma Tech Blog on integrating MarcEdit with Alma. For Koha, this article from ByWater Solutions offers guidance on how to edit records in MarcEdit using the Koha MarcEdit integration.

Integration with OCLC’s API

For the OCLC API integration, you need to check if your institution is eligible and request an API key for this service. If your institution is eligible, you can request a key through OCLC’s developer network. You can also go to Preferences from the main menu in MarcEdit, click on OCLC API Integration and then click on the “Request an OCLC Key”. It is recommended to consult OCLC’s help page on setting up MarcEdit OCLC integration as well as Terry Reese’s information from his blog.

Integration with a Z39.50 Database

Many systems rely on the Z39.50 protocol to search and exchange data. It could be the case that your current ILS relies on it for Interlibrary loan. For this type of integration, you need the following information below. You can find this information at the Library of Congress Gateway to Library Catalogs of zbrary.

Field	Value
Name	Enter a name that helps you remember which Z39.50 service you are connecting to
Host	The link to the host’s Z39.50.
Database	Enter the name of the database
Port	Enter the port number
Syntax	Enter the flavor of MARC such as USMARC
Username	Enter a username

For OCLC, this information looks like the following.

Field	Value
Name	OCLC’s Library Catalog
Host	zcat.oclc.org
Database	OLUCWorldCat
Port	210
Syntax	MARC21
Username & Password	Connexion Username of 3 numbers - 3 numbers - 3 numbers as in 100-034-090 and your Connexion Password

You should be able to add multiple Z39.50 connections.

Key Points

• Understand what integrations are and why they’re useful
• Understand where to set up an integration