MassCat: Unusual, Unique and Unexpected!

Requests for Bibliographic Records (for MassCat members not using CatExpress)

1.  Please remember that only records for newly acquired materials can be requested.  For retrospective conversion, try the MassCat database, or talk to your Regional Library System consultants for other options. 

2.  Search MassCat for the desired records the same day as sending your request form.

3.  Choose the request form for the correct media type.

4.  Fill out the request as completely as possible.  Fields in bold are required. 

5.  Send the form.

6.  The Cataloging Center will send out a weekly email stating that records requested as of a particular date have been loaded. (It may take an additional day from the announcement date for those records to appear in MassCat.)

7.  If the Cataloging Center has questions about your request, you will receive an email requesting further information, or a faxed bibliographic record(s) for you to determine if the record and your item match.

8.  If a bibliographic record cannot be found for your title, you will be notified. You then have the option of requesting an original catalog record.

Listed below are links to electronic forms for requesting bibliographic records (you may also print the web-form and fax or mail, if you prefer):

• Request a record for a book
• Request a record for a video or DVD
• Request a record for a sound recording
• Request a record for a CD-ROM or other software