Hello fellow subscribers,

We are a medium sized academic library in the process of implementing
our first integrated library system.  We intend to create detailed
holdings records for approximately 2,000 serials using the LC MARC
holdings standard.  I have ordered the documentation and anticipate that
it will take me several months at least before the project is complete.
Yesterday one of our library administrators suggested that this is an
easy task that should be complete in a matter of weeks, and  should not
require much effort or preparation.

Have any of you ever had to justify using the MARC standard?  How long
should it take to create MARC holdings records for 2,000 journals and,
of equal importance, is this not an endeavor for which a fair amount of
study and preparation is justified?

I would deeply appreciate any opinions or recommendations on this
matter.  Your response would help me to justifiably take the time I need
to complete the project.

Thanks in advance!

Donna Bible
Library Systems Administrator
Dumbarton Oaks
1703 32nd Street NW
Washington, DC 20007-2961

e-mail:  bibled@doaks.org