Description of a NACO Funnel Project

A NACO funnel project is a group of libraries that have joined together to contribute name authority records to the national authority file. Frequently, funnel members create records in modest numbers, and consolidate their efforts to make a more significant contribution in terms of quantity. NACO funnels may be based on similarities among libraries for example:

• Based on subject area, e.g., NACO Music Project, ArtNACO
• Based on location, e.g., North Dakota Project, Vermont Project
• Based on membership in a consortium e.g., CALICO South Africa, GAELIC South Africa

The PCC views funnel projects as a very efficient means of contribution. Efficiencies in a NACO funnel project include the following:

• One person or institution serves as funnel coordinator for the project
• Coordinator recruits participants and generally hosts training session
• Coordinator receives correspondence and disseminates information to members
• Coordinator receives free NACO subscription and distributes copies to members
• Coordinator may serve as trainer and reviewer for members, with help as needed
• Members may share costs if a trainer has travel expenses
• New member institutions may be added at any time

Other efficiencies include flexibility in the 5-day training schedule:

• The standard 5-day training course may be spread out over a period of time for members
• Training may be organized in fewer days; broken up into modules, and/or presented in conjunction with a conference

In some ways funnel projects are mini-NACO operations in that they recruit, train, and review just as Coop does for single institution participants. Major differences between individual institutional membership and funnel membership include the following:

• Independent NACO status following training and review is granted only to funnel coordinator; it may be extended to member libraries at the discretion of the funnel coordinator.
• Free NACO subscription (LCRIs, MARC 21 Authority Format, and NACO Participants’ Manual) comes only to the funnel coordinator; coordinator makes copies as needed to distribute to funnel members.
• In elections for NACO representatives to PCC Policy Committee, only the funnel coordinator casts a vote, representing the voice of the entire funnel group

Funnel coordinators or potential coordinators should view the Guidelines for starting a PCC Funnel Project on the NACO home page for a list of steps necessary to complete before starting a project or adding new libraries. For more information contact: NACO Coordinator, Cooperative Cataloging Team, Library of Congress at: cast@loc.gov