Use case
Catalogue enrichment

Catalogue enrichment makes library holdings easier to discover. Tables of contents, covers, OCR data and other additional information help users identify relevant literature faster and search more effectively.

For libraries, this means adding information to catalogue records that goes beyond the basic title description. Imageware supports this process with workflows for checking, digitisation, duplicate avoidance and handover to catalogue or union systems.

Improve discoverability without creating duplicate work

Catalogue enrichment adds further information to existing catalogue records, such as tables of contents or covers. For monographs in particular, one recurring question is whether a table of contents has already been digitised elsewhere and can be reused.

A good workflow therefore checks existing data sources before a new scanning job is created. If suitable data is available, it can be reused. If not, digitisation is triggered and the result is then provided in a structured form.

Many titles, many data sources, many checks

Catalogue enrichment may sound simple: scan the table of contents, add a link, done. In practice, the process is more complex. Libraries need to check whether a table of contents already exists, whether it belongs to the correct edition, which metadata can be reused and how the result is added cleanly to the local catalogue.

Without automated checks, duplicate work can easily occur. Titles are scanned again even though suitable data already exists. Or data is reused without enough certainty that it matches the item in hand.

For larger collections, a workflow is needed that uses metadata, checks existing sources, makes matches traceable and creates new scanning jobs only where they are actually required.

A workflow for checking, digitising and reusing data

Imageware supports catalogue enrichment with a process that checks existing data and triggers new digitisation only where needed. Libraries can capture, reuse and integrate tables of contents and other additional information in a structured way.

mybib eDoc manages the workflow: from job creation and metadata checks to status tracking and handover of the results. It remains clear which titles have been checked, reused, scanned or completed.

mybib Tox supports duplicate checking. Using ISBNs and other bibliographic identifiers, the workflow can check whether a suitable table of contents or cover already exists. If a match is found, the library can reuse existing data and avoid scanning the item again.

BCS-2 is used when content needs to be digitised from scratch. The required pages are scanned, processed, checked and then passed back into the workflow.

When enrichment extends to article data or periodicals, C-3 plus can be added. This focus is covered in more detail on the separate “Periodicals” use case page.

Better discovery, less duplicate work

With Imageware, libraries can organise catalogue enrichment more efficiently and more precisely. Existing data is checked, suitable matches are reused and new digitisation is triggered only where it is needed.

Users benefit from catalogue records that reveal more about the actual content of a title. Library teams reduce duplicate work, keep track of processing statuses and create consistent additional information for discovery, catalogues and union systems.