Derived cataloging: retrieving data from OPAC SBN with the Z3950 protocol

Describing a book item from scratch, field by field, is a lengthy task — especially when the cataloging data already exists elsewhere. Upon request, it is possible to enable the Z3950 protocol, which connects the Objects section directly to OPAC SBN.

The functionality is designed to fit seamlessly into the usual workflow: from the main panel of the record, click on the book-shaped icon to open a search interface integrated into Pimcore, then type in the title of the publication to be cataloged.

Once the correct edition is found among the results, simply select it from the "Action" column to automatically generate the descriptive record, pre-filled with the cataloging data retrieved from the OPAC. From there, you can edit it as you would with any other record, adding missing information or details specific to your archive.

The advantage is twofold: it speeds up the cataloging of book items and reduces the risk of transcription errors, as the data arrives pre-validated from the national catalog instead of being re-entered manually.

The complete guide to the feature, with screenshots of each step, is in the Z3950 Protocol section of the documentation.