National Library of New Zealand - Te Puna Mātauranga O Aotearoa Services to Schools - Supporting literacy and learning

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SchoolsCat

The SchoolsCat database enables your school library team to find and download catalogue records and import them into your ILS (integrated library system).

Log in to SchoolsCat

SchoolsCat:  background and introduction

In undertaking an Inquiry approach to learning, the staff and students in New Zealand schools need to be able to rely on accurate, consistent information provided via the school library catalogue.

The SchoolsCat service has been developed by the National Library of New Zealand to provide a standards-based online cataloguing product for all New Zealand schools.This service enables your school library catalogue to provide reliable information for students seeking the best resources to meet their learning needs.

SchoolsCat catalogue records can be imported into commonly used integrated library systems (ILS).

National Library’s Services to Schools is resourcing this service as part of its commitment to developing library and information services in all schools, and so we are providing this service to New Zealand schools at no charge.

What is SchoolsCat?

• SchoolsCat is a customised version of the cataloguing database used by New Zealand public and tertiary libraries.

• SchoolsCat is accessed via the Internet.

• The SchoolsCat database enables school library teams to locate and download catalogue records for a wide range of materials including books and teacher resources from the Ministry of Education and Learning Media.

• SchoolsCat quickly matches your scanned ISBNs to retrieve catalogue records which can be downloaded into your ILS.

To register as a SchoolsCat user

Your school has to be registered before you can download catalogue records from SchoolsCat. Please complete the online registration form and we will send you a copy of the Registration Agreement for SchoolsCat, as well as logon and password details.

SchoolsCat online registration form

To use SchoolsCat

We have provided step-by-step instructions to help you use SchoolsCat with your ILS.  The PDFs include screen shots so that you can follow the process more easily.  However, Word versions are also attached (but without the screen shots).

The process is very straightforward:

  • Connect to SchoolsCat
  • Click on the Login tab and log in with your MOE number and SchoolsCat password
  • You are now in the Search Screen
  • Scan or type ISBNs into the “Search for” field,  then click the “Search” button to send them for matching with SchoolsCat catalogue records.  Note that you can send batches of up to 20 ISBNs at a time.
  • Save the matched records, and then import into your ILS, using the procedure for your system as outlined in the attachments below.

For further help view the the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at the bottom of this page or contact a library adviser on 0800 LIBLINE - 0800 542 5463.