Our Mission

CEFLS provides centralized MARC record cataloging for all of the public libraries in our service area. We maintain an up-to-date catalog of the libraries’ holdings of books, audiobooks, videos and other resources so that the public and staff are able to find information and entertainment resources. The catalog allows libraries to share their holdings throughout the 3-county area, making them searchable and requestable through our public online catalog, and also makes these resources available to the larger region through NNYLN’s search system DueNorth.

How Cataloging is Provided

When libraries obtain new materials, they first search our integrated library system software (SirsiDynix Horizon) to determine if the MARC (Machine Readable Cataloging) record exists. If it does, they can add the local details in the form of an item record, which makes the item available for use. If a MARC record does not exist, library staff members fill out an online form to request one. The Automation and Technical Services Department searches an international database to obtain the records. We provide over 1,200 records per month and approximately 15,000 per year.

The Cataloging Life Cycle

Eventually, after a number of years, most library materials become dated and libraries remove them from the collection by a process known as “weeding.” The CEFLS Automation and Technical Services Department also removes MARC records from the catalog on a regular basis when they are no longer needed. The shared collection of thirty public libraries and the CEFLS pool collection has been fairly constant for a few years at about 300,000 titles and 600,000 copies.  Approximately 15,000 titles and 30,000 copies are weeded each year to balance the additions.

Special Services

CEFLS automation and technical services staff are able to help with adding unusual items to a library’s collection, such as kits and loanable objects, or to catalog publications by local authors or with special significance.

If you are a staff member, the links below will be useful in adding new items to your library’s collection.

• • Automation and Technical Services
    Contact information for the staff members who can help you with cataloging questions
  • MARC Record Request Form
    Fill out this form if a new item you are adding to the library collection does not already have a record in Horizon.
  • OCLC Classify
    Help for assigning Dewey call numbers.
  • Instructions for adding holdings.
    This pdf explains how to search for a record in Horizon and add your new holdings to the record.