Loading Authority Records Using Reports

Various types of authority records are loaded by the Load Authority Records report. Loading records into the SirsiDynix Symphony catalog is a two-step process.

1 Records must be copied from disk to the server using the MARC Import Utility Wizard.
2 Records are then loaded using the Load Authority Records Report, which will incorporate the file of records into the SirsiDynix Symphony catalog.

If your system has the authority checking option configured, you may want to apply global changes to bibliographic records as a result of an authority load. The Add, Delete, Update Databases report is the only mechanism that causes a global change to bibliographic records as a result of changes to authority records. Run this report to apply global changes.

To load a large number of authority records

1 Before loading the authority records, suspend cataloging and run the Add, Delete, Update Databases Report several times. This clears the /Unicorn/Database/Authedit directory of record keys.
2 Load the authority records using the Authority Database Overlay Report. At this point, cataloging can resume. The next run of the Add, Delete, Update Databases report will handle authority records that are subsequently created or edited.
3 Run the Rebuild Authority Thesauri Report.

Important Considerations When Loading Authority Records

• The time it takes to run the Rebuild Authority Thesauri report depends on the speed of your server and size of your databases (although it may take hours to run).
• If your system has the authority checking option configured, you may want to apply global changes to bibliographic records as a result of an authority load. The Add, Delete, Update Databases report is the only mechanism that causes a global change to bibliographic records as a result of changes to authority records. Run this report to apply global changes.
• You may want to reauthorize your authority controlled headings after a loading a large number of authority records. The report that compares authority controlled entries in bibliographic records to the authority index is the Delete Authority Entries report. Run the Delete Authority Entries report followed by the Rebuild Text Database report to properly index the = subfield which contains authority keys and the |?UNAUTHORIZED flag.