CollectiveAccess doesn't natively implement any particular standard. Rather, it can be configured to support whatever metadata standard (or standards) are needed. To support MARC21 you'd specify a bibliographic record with fields aligning with the MARC fields you require - generally a subset of the standard. We've done this with museum collections and can share a specification for a working bibliographic record if helpful. It may not be exactly you what you want, but it will provide an outline for the approach.
When set up in this way, library collections are just another object type, in addition to artworks, archival items and any other item-level types. As an example, in one large museum collection we've worked the object types include artworks, incoming loaned artworks, archival items, library items and exhibition equipment.
For small library collections where tracking of individual copies is not required a single bibliographic record is often used. For collections lending multiples, two records are typically used. One records the bibliographic details, the other represents individual copies. Most information is stored in the bibliographic record. The "copy" record generally contains only condition, location and check-out information.
Other library-specific functionality in CollectiveAccess:
- The data importer can read and crosswalk data from MARC21 and MARCXML
- Integration with OCLC's WorldCat service is possible. Links between CollectiveAccess records and WorldCat entries can be created or, more commonly, selected WorldCat entries can be imported into CollectiveAccess as new bibliographic items. The import can be controlled with an import mapping in the same form as those used for the import formats
- A simple check in/check out circulation system is provided
- Integration with ILS' can be effected using the OAI-PMH service built into CollectiveAccess
Please note that CollectiveAccess is most definitely not an ILS. It is typically used to manage bibliographic collections only when they are one part of a larger, heterogeneous collection. The check in/out system is very simple and meant for informal and semi-formal loans within an organization. Typical use cases are art museums and artists' studios with significant item-level and archival holdings, with a library stuck on the side. The advantages of folding management of libraries into CollectiveAccess in these contexts basically boil down to:
- You can tightly integrate cataloguing of books with that of artworks, exhibition history and archival materials. Eg. a book that mentions an artwork in the collection can be directly related to that artwork.
- One less system to manage.
In other words, while it's possible to manage library collections in CollectiveAccess, if it's a complicated, circulating or free-standing collection you are probably better off with a true ILS.
