Importing Patron Data

Though patron data is not defined by the Library of Congress' MARC21 Standards, Innovative converts the data into a MARC-like format when you pre-process patron data.

After pre-processing you can view the MARC-like pre-processed data.

After pre-processing and loading, patron data is stored in the format used by your Innovative database.

You can import and pre-process the following file formats:

Delimited Text Files

Delimited text files must conform to the following specifications:

Use the delimited text file format when you create a Load Patron DELIMITED Records task in Scheduler.

Fixed-length Text Files

Fixed-length text files must conform to the following specifications:

  • Each record contains information for a unique instance of the record type.
  • Each field must be a specific length in bytes.
  • Each field must appear in each record. If data is not present for a field, then a space (hex 20) or spaces (repeating hex 20) holds the place.
  • The same number of fields, in the same order, must appear in each record.
  • Identification of a field is by its position within the record. There is no identifying tag.
  • Fields are not repeatable.
  • Special characters, symbols and diacritical marks should be coded using extended ASCII characters.
  • The end of each record is a carriage return/linefeed (hex 0D/hex 0A) or linefeed (hex 0A).

When you create a Load Patron TEXT Records task in Scheduler and use a fixed-length text file, specify format 3.

MARC-like Files

Each MARC-like patron record consists of a leader, directory, and fields identified by MARC tags. All fields (with the exception of the PATRN NAME field in patron records) are optional. Encrypted PIN fields cannot be loaded.

Hex 1F is used as the subfield delimiter. The symbol "|" represents the subfield delimiter in the example below.

Hex 1E is used as the field terminator. The symbol "#" represents the field terminator in the example below.

Hex 1D is used as a record terminator.The symbol "%" represents the record terminator in the example below:

The text of variable-length fields appears as:

..|aSmith, Jane#..|aP.O. Box 177$305B East Hall#

The MARC format is a communications format, so the data is a continuous stream with no blocking. For example, a patron record appears as:

00426   0019   0200016000000300018000160800013000340810006
0004708200060005308300080005908400080006708500090007510000
1600084220003200100225001900132230003700151235001900188550
002500207# |a123-45-6789# |a2117102003159# |a12-31-2021#
|aa# |ab# |a001# |a001# |amain# |aSmith, Jane# |aP.O. Box
177$305B East Hall# |a(510) 555-1305# |a123 Hill St..
$Oakland, CA  95155# |a(510) 444-1010#|ajanesmith@
campus.edu#%

When you create a Load Patron TEXT Records task in Scheduler and use a MARC-like text file, specify format 1.

Standard Tags for Imported Patron Records

Field names are used in all files. MARC tags are used only in MARC-like files. Innovative field tags are used in records stored in the Innovative database.

The standard tags and field names for patron record data in the Innovative system are:

MARC Tag Innovative fixed-length field number Innovative variable-length field letter Field name
020     u ID number
030     b Barcode number
079 163     Date of last circulation activity
080 043     Expiration date of patron's library privileges
081 044     Patron code 1
082 045     Patron code 2
083 046     Patron code 3
084 047     Patron type
085 053     Home library code
086 056     Manual block code
087 054     Patron message code
088 126     Patron code 4
089 051     Patron birth date
100     n Patron name
220     h Local address
225     p Local telephone number
230     q Permanent address
235     t Permanent telephone number
400     m Message
500     x Note
550     z Email address
600     = PIN
856     y Patron image