Frequently Asked Questions about Funnel Projects

A funnel project is a group of libraries (or catalogers from various libraries) that have joined together to contribute authority records to the LC/NACO Authority File. Funnel participants usually work in the same subject area, such as the NACO Music Project or Art NACO, or they may be regionally based, like the North Dakota Funnel. Funnel projects are an efficient means of contribution, where one person or institution coordinates the project. There may be members at all levels of expertise; however, LC deals solely with the coordinator.

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Individual institutional NACO partners typically have a potential to contribute a substantial number of records per year and often include the general and branch library cataloging staffs of an institution. Funnels generally consist of smaller libraries who will contribute at a more modest level as some libraries may consist of only one or two catalogers.
Some funnels may be composed of individuals working in a particular language or subject speciality within larger institutions. These parent institutions may or may not be PCC participants. These catalogers have found a community of colleagues beyond the walls of their own institutions in professional organizations or in neighboring libraries and it makes sense to form a coordinated project to receive training and to have their NACO records reviewed by a specialist in a specific language, topic, or format. An important difference between institutional NACO vs. NACO funnel participation is that the director of an institutional NACO partner has a vote in the annual elections of the PCC, funnel participants are represented by the coordinator in the PCC elections. See also the chart comparing types of NACO membership.

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Anyone who has the institutional support to organize, train, and coordinate a group of libraries with common interests to contribute name authority records via a utility (generally OCLC).

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The requirements are that:

1. the coordinator must first be an independent NACO contributor;
2. the coordinator will provide training for its members, although other options are possible;
3. the coordinator will review the work of the funnel members.

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The inherent costs are the time and effort required to organize and provide review of name authority records for the funnel members. In some cases members do not have access to OCLC and the coordinator agrees to input name authorities for members (not highly recommended, but sometimes necessary).

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The PCC Secretariat will work with a coordinator to help organize NACO training. NACO funnel members will need to secure NACO authorizations, etc. (cf. Guidelines for beginning a funnel project) and the Secretariat is available to help with this process. LC will assign a liaison to act as a resource person for the coordinator to answer cataloging questions, interpretation of LC-PCC Policy Statements, etc.

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NACO training can be provided to the coordinator at LC or at that person's institution under the same conditions as regular NACO participation. There are various options for organizing a training of funnel members in a central location as was done for the Hebraica Funnel project.

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No, it is not strictly necessary to belong to OCLC in order to participate in a NACO funnel if the coordinator of that funnel is willing to provide the necessary support for its members.

Funnel Coordinators can input records for the non-OCLC funnel member libraries. In this case, the funnel member library’s MARC 21 code will appear in the 040 field subfield $a for the original cataloging agency, and the funnel coordinator library’s MARC 21 code will appear in subfield $c as the transcribing agency. This practice is based on the MARC 21 Format for Authority Data’s defined use of the 040 field and is allowed for use by OCLC in support of the PCC’s NACO funnel membership.

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Contact the funnel coordinators listed in the Directory of funnel projects and speak with the coordinator of the funnel you want to join to learn what options are available.

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The PCC does not encourage individual cataloger participation in any of its programs without institutional support; however, funnels can often provide feedback, review, and expert consultation to catalogers in specialized areas more expeditiously than other mechanisms. Catalogers who wish to join a specific funnel should discuss this option with their institutions and the funnel coordinator (see Directory of funnel projects).

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In order to continue to participate in NACO, contact [email protected] and communicate your intentions. You will be required to:

1. Submit a completed NACO application available on the NACO home page.
2. Apply to OCLC for NACO authorization if you do not already have one.
3. If all catalogers in your institution have already been trained and are independent for NACO contribution there is no need for retraining; LC will review a sample of contributed records to ensure that RDA, LC-PCC Policy Statements, MARC 21, etc. have been followed. If problems are identified during the review process, the NACO Coordinator may suggest a retraining.

All these options should be discussed with the NACO Coordinator at the time you withdraw from the NACO funnel.

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Statistics showing the contributions of all institutions in the PCC programs are compiled twice during the LC fiscal year. Midyear statistics cover October 1 to March 30 of the following calendar year. Annual statistics cover October 1 to September 30th of the following year. Statistical reports are published online through the PCC homepage.

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