1. OCLC is a worldwide database of bibliographic records. OCLC members create bibliographic records and share them for everyone subscribing to OCLC to use/adapt.
   

Agreements with Minitex and the MnPALS require membership in OCLC. OCLC enables copy cataloging and, in some cases, aids Interlibrary Loan. Further, OCLC requires that each member library maintain holdings in OCLC. Librarians indicate in the OCLC which titles the library owns. It is also essential to remove holdings from OCLC when an item is no longer in the library.

1. Bibliographic Record – describes the book, DVD, CD, electronic, etc. Records. Identifying the author, title, subjects, publication information, and extent.
   

1. MARC fields - the bibliographic record often contains MARC fields (numbers at the beginning of each line) See MARC information document for more information.
   

1. Holding Record – is attached to the bibliographic record, which details the call number and location of the item.
   

1. Institution Zone (IZ) – Alma's term for internal bibliographic database for records specific to a local institution.
   

1. Network Zone (NZ) – A bibliographic database shared among MnPALS members in Alma. Bibliographic records have to include an OCLC number.
   

1. Community Zone (CZ) – Alma shared a bibliographic database from Ex Libris and Vendors, containing only electronic resources. Generally, records from the CZ are activated, not cataloged.
   

1. Original Cataloging means that the OCLC bibliographic database does not hold the item in your hand. Original Cataloging requires some in-depth cataloging knowledge.
   

1. Copy-cataloging means that a matching bibliographic record exists in OCLC's database. As a member of the MnPALS consortium, copy-catalog activity can happen using Alma's Network Zone, Alma's direct integration to OCLC, or importing records from OCLC's database to Alma.