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5.6. Record Match Sets

Last Updated 03/09/2026

What is a Record Match Set?

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Match Sets in NC Cardinal define the MARC record criteria for identifying matching records during the MARC Batch Import/Export process. There are two match sets: Cardinal match and Authority Match. The Cardinal Match Set evaluates specific fields, such as 020$a and 035$a, assigning a "Match score" based on how many fields match, with certain combinations yielding higher scores. Users can check match scores in the Import/Export interface under the Inspect Queue tab.

Match Sets determine the MARC record criteria used to identify matches between any existing records and the MARC records imported using the MARC Batch Import/Export interface.

Record Match Sets within NC Cardinal

There are two match sets in NC Cardinal:

• Cardinal match is the default for bibliographic record imports. All batch bibliographic record uploads must utilize Cardinal match to ensure that duplicate bibliographic records are not imported.
• Authority Match is used for authority records. 

Cardinal (Bibliographic) Match Set Fields

The impoter evaluates potential matches by comparing specific fields in the imported record with fields in the existing catalog. If any of the following are identified as a match, the records will be merged:

• 020$a
• 022$a
• 024$a
• 035$a
• 028$a AND 028$b

Each of these fields earns a pre-determined "Match score." The more fields that match, the higher the match score. When multiple potential matches are found in the catalog, the one that reults in teh highest match core will be selected as the merge target. Additionally, a match between some fields is considered a stronger match than others. For example, an 020$a match receives a higher score than an 024$a.

Note: In some cases, a specific combination of matching fields has a higher overall score than the sum of both of the fields' individual match scores. For example, a record with both a matching 020$a AND 035$a receives a match score of 16 points, versus the sum of the individual 020$a or 035$a scores, which is only 6.

Checking the Match Score

1. In the Import/Export interface, click on the Inspect Queue tab.
2. Locate the queue with the records you want to inspect in the grid. Double click to open it.
3. Find the "Matches" column in the title grid.
4. Click the hyperlinked number in parentheses.
   
5. This will open a new page with four tab options. Evergreen should automatically open the Record Matches tab.
   
6. The Match Score should be a visible column in the grid of the Record Matches page. The number in this column will be the sum of the match scores of the evaluated fields.
   

To view the uploaded record and inspect the fields that should have been evaluated, click into the "Queued MARC Record" tab. To compare the evaluated fields with the existing record, click on the hyperlinked TCN for the selected matching record in teh Record ID column of the Record Matches grid.

Note: Some imported records may have more than one potential match. All potential matches will be listed in the grid.