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Global Holdings Update Service
Libraries Australia encourages all libraries to ensure their holdings are kept up to date on the Australian National Bibliographic Database (ANBD). This is important for resource sharing and also ensures the efficiency of your ILL services. To assist with this, Libraries Australia provides a free Global Holdings Update Service for the updating or deletion of holdings for your institution.
Benefits of using Global Holdings Update
- Global Holdings Update is a free Libraries Australia service
- It is more efficient to update or delete holdings in YOUR library system, and have those changes made to the ANBD records for you
- Deletions or changes can be made across multiple holdings on the ANBD in one go, instead of you having to do them one at a time.
- If your local system doesn't have a global update facility, you can arrange a global holdings update on the ANBD and then refresh your local system by ordering a file from Libraries Australia Products
When should I use Global Holdings Update?
- When you are weeding your collection
- When your library amalgamates with another library or branch
- When a number of items in your collection move to a different location (physical or shelf location)
- When a common text string needs to be changed, e.g. a location prefix
- When items in your collection have been transferred to another library
- When a NUC symbol you are using is to be cancelled
How do I use Global Holdings Update?
Contact the
Libraries Australia Help Desk to discuss the details of the
global change you require.
To either update or delete your holdings, we recommend you keep a record of the ANBD numbers of affected records. Then all you need to do is send us the ANBD numbers and your librarys NUC, and the details of what is to be done with your holdings.
If your library is amalgamating with another library, a global transfer of your library's holdings to the other library can be arranged. You will need to include NUC symbol(s) for both libraries. In accordance with the ILRS policy we discourage holdings changes that only change the NUC symbol. For further information please refer to the ILRS policy.
If your NUC symbol is being cancelled, Contact Us so that we can ensure all the holdings attached to this NUC are deleted.
What if I don't have ANBD numbers?
If you are
globally changing or deleting all holdings against a NUC
symbol, ANBD numbers are not required. Just contact the
Help Desk with your NUC symbol and the details of
the change required.
However, when only part of your collection is involved, the Global Holdings Update facility needs ANBD numbers to identify records for change or deletion. If you do not have ANBD numbers, you may be able to use your local system numbers if they have been loaded to the NBD or ISBN numbers. ISBN numbers should be used with care as they are not very accurate and some multi volume works and sets will have different ISBNs in one record.
Otherwise you might be a candidate for our Record Import Service Holdings Update Service.

