About SIPCAT
The system
Koha is a full-featured, open source Integrated Library System (ILS) initially developed in New Zealand in 2000 and maintained today by advanced users and developers all over the world. The word Koha is Maori and means gift or donation. The system is based on international library standards (Marc21 and Unimarc) and protocols. It includes modules for circulation, cataloguing, acquisitions, serials, reserves, patron management, branch relationships, and more. For additional information about the project see the Koha website.
Today the system is used by more than 300 libraries from all continents. As far as we know SIPRI is one of the first libraries in Sweden and the Nordic countries to choose Koha as its ILS. The version used by us is 2.2.9 on a Linux server (Debian).
Short conversion history
The old databases - the library catalogue and the articles reference database, consisting of about 34000 records each - were managed in an uncoded database environment (Filemaker) on MacIntosh. In order to make the export to the new Unix-based system possible the records were converted to Marc21 with the help of MarcEdit, another free resource, see MarcEdit for more information.
With the conversion three previously separate databases have been merged into one as the "Journal holdings" and the "Articles reference database" have become part of the main catalogue SIPCAT.
The new catalogue
As the move to a new ILS meant a shift in local cataloguing practice all records imported from the old system will need some editing before they are displayed in a satisfactory manner. Until this has been accomplished the following phenomena will at times appear in the catalogue:
- Some letter combinations have been replaced by strange characters (mostly concerns French, German and Swedish records).
- Information may be missing in the following fields: "Location", "Acquisition Number" and "Item type".
Search hints
As a direct result of the missing information in the "Location"
field choosing a category from the "Item type" menu will not render a
correct number of hits. Until all records have been edited it is
therefore advisable to instead focus the search on fields such as "Any
word" and, if known, author and title.
Special features for registered users
To be allowed to borrow material directly you must be 18 years of age, possess a valid identity card and be able to state an address in Sweden. For more information, see loan rules. You become a registered borrower the first time you visit the physical library to pick up a loan. Libraries/institutions become registered the first time they borrow a book on interlibrary loan. If you do not fulfill the requirements you may still want to sign up to gain access to some new features in the catalogue which are reserved for registered online users.
Interested users will, upon request, be given a password with which
they can log in. Once logged in an additional set of buttons will
appear in the left-hand menu.
Personal page
The first time you log in you should start by choosing a new password. You may also update the address information.
Virtual shelves
Create a virtual bookshelf to collect and sort bibliographical references. Choose if you want to make it public or visible only to yourself.
Suggestions
If you can’t find a title in the catalogue that you think we should have – make a suggestion for purchase.
