Frequently Asked Questions about Funnel Projects

1. What is a funnel project?

   A funnel project is a group of libraries (or catalogers from various libraries) that have joined together to contribute authority records to the national authority file(s). Funnel participants usually work in the same subject area, such as the NACO Music Project, Art NACO, African American Subject Funnel Project, or they may be regionally based, like the North Dakota Funnel or the Hawaii/Pacific Subject Authority Funnel Project. 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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2. What are the differences between institutional NACO/SACO participation and funnel participation?

   Individual institutional NACO/SACO 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 or SACO 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. SACO only participants (funnel or otherwise) do not vote in PCC elections.

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3. Who can start a funnel project?

   Anyone who has the institutional support to organize, train, and coordinate a group of libraries with common interests to contribute either name authority records via one of the utilities or subject authority records to LCSH.

4. Are there any SACO funnel projects?

   Yes, at present there are five SACO funnel projects; namely, the African-American Subject Funnel, the Africana Subject Funnel, the Hawaii/Pacific Subject Authority Funnel Project, the Judaica Subject Funnel Project, and the Virginia Subject Funnel Project.

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5. What are the requirements to become a NACO funnel project coordinator?

   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;
   4. the coordinator will disseminate all LC documentation to the funnel members.

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6. What are the requirements to become a SACO funnel project coordinator?

   The requirements are that:

   1. the coordinator must first have attended the basic SACO workshop, or be an experienced SACO 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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7. What are the costs involved in implementing/coordinating a funnel project?

   The inherent costs are the time and effort required to organize and provide review of name or subject authorities for the funnel members. In some cases members do not have access to OCLC or RLG and the coordinator agrees to input name authorities for members (not highly recommended, but sometimes necessary). NACO funnel costs include the time and resources to reproduce and mail documentation to the funnel members on a timely basis, including updates of the LCRIs or the DCM Z1 "yellow pages" supplement to the MARC 21 authority format.

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8. What support does the PCC provide to funnel projects?

   The PCC Secretariat will work with a coordinator to help organize the NACO or SACO 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 supply a free set of documentation to the trainer (e.g., LCRIs, MARC 21 Authority Format) and will send subsequent updates for dissemination to the funnel. LC will assign a liaison to act as a resource person for the coordinator to answer cataloging questions, interpretation of the LCRIs, etc.

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9. What training options are available to begin a funnel project?

   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. SACO funnel coordinators should contact the SACO Coordinator John Mitchell or by phone at 202.707.5772 or discuss SACO training options for its members.

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10. Do all funnel members have to belong to OCLC?

    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.

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11. Do SACO funnel members need to belong to OCLC?

    Currently there is no mechanism for contributions of SACO proposals to LCSH via OCLC.

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12. How can my institution join an existing funnel?

    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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13. May an individual cataloger join an existing funnel?

    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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14. What are the options if my institution withdraws from a funnel but wishes to continue NACO/SACO participation?

    In order to continue to participate in NACO contact the Cooperative Cataloging Team Leader, Anthony Franks or by phone at 202.707.2822 and communicate your intentions to him. You will be required to:

    1. Submit a completed NACO application available on the NACO home page.
    2. Apply to OCLC or RLG 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 the AACR2 rules, LCRIs, MARC 21, etc. have been followed. If problems are identified during the review process, the COOP Team Leader may suggest a retraining.
    4. SACO participation is independent of NACO participation. Institutions may continue to contribute SACO heading proposals on an individual basis by following the guidelines available on the SACO home page

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

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15. What are the options if my institution withdraws from a SACO funnel?

    Institutions may continue to contribute SACO heading proposals on an individual basis by following the guidelines available on the SACO home page