The issue of security for creating and updating holdings records has
come up here at McGill recently.  Currently Central Tech Services
does the cataloging and most of the holdings work for 12
libraries.

We would appreciate your thoughts/ experiences on this issue.  We are
a NOTIS site but I think this same question is valid regardless fo
the system used,  (Except that the security of the particular system
may determine the possibilities available).

Questions we have thought of are:

If  create adn/or update access to holdings information is
decentralized -

How much training - initial and ongoing - is involved?
How are standards set and monitored?   What are the effect of
inconsistencies in  the type of info. entered, e.g. format of the
statements, detail of holdings, info., information regarding shelving,
binding, or other local details?  Is there an effect on reporting to
union lists?  Is there confusion on the part of OPAC users?

How is workflow and workload affected in the central unit?  in the
libraries?

Any amount of info or advice you have will be appreciated.   Please
note that this message has already been posted on Autocat so please
excuse the duplication.

Lynne Murphy
Serials Librarian
Mcgill University
MURPHYLIB1.LAN.MCGILL.CA
514-398-4788