Bibliographic data
Titles, MARC records, authority records, copy-level details and related metadata.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE / DATA QUALITY
Koha data migration & data quality.
A structured migration process for bibliographic records, items, patron data and operational context, with a clear path from source data to Koha-ready data.
SOURCE DATA → KOHA-READY DATAUnderstand, map, transform, validate.
Legacy records→Cleaned data→Koha import
WHY DATA MIGRATION MATTERS
Migration is not simply a technical transfer of records.
It is a structured exercise in data quality, operational continuity and long-term clarity. Careful assessment, cleaning and validation help libraries reduce duplication, inconsistent codes, missing values and broken record relationships.
A good migration preserves access to collections, patron information and staff workflows while preparing data for daily Koha operation.
MIGRATION FRAMEWORK
From source data to verified operation.
- 01AssessReview source structures, quality and requirements.
- 02ExtractGather bibliographic, item, patron and related data.
- 03CleanIdentify duplicates, incomplete fields and inconsistencies.
- 04TransformMap MARC and related data to Koha structures.
- 05ValidateCheck integrity, completeness and field mapping.
- 06ImportLoad prepared data in a controlled sequence.
- 07VerifyTest catalogue, circulation, patron access and workflows.
DATA THAT CAN BE PREPARED
Understand the records behind the service.
Patron data
User records, borrower information, membership status, account detail and circulation context.
Item records
Barcode, location, status and holdings data mapped to the target Koha structure.
Identifiers
Barcode structures and item identifiers normalized for circulation and reporting.
Other library data
Depending on the source, vendor data, historical records and operational context.
Legacy context
Understanding how the previous system stored information is essential to conversion.
QUALITY & VALIDATION
Imported records still need to be proven useful.
Record integrityField mappingOperational testingCatalogue reviewCirculation checksPatron access validation
NEXT STEP
Need a data migration plan for Koha?
Share your current system, migration goals and data scope for a practical discussion.