Cassidy Cataloguing Services

What Cassidy Cataloguing Services does

Cassidy Cataloguing Services, Inc. is a privately held, founder-owned library cataloguing firm founded in 1985 by Joni and Michael Cassidy and headquartered in Rockaway, New Jersey. The company produces high-quality MARC21 records in RDA format for libraries, specializing in electronic resources from major legal and scientific publishers (HeinOnline, Thomson Reuters Westlaw, LexisNexis, Wolters Kluwer VitalLaw, West Academic, American Chemical Society, American Mathematical Society), Publishers' Cataloging-in-Publication (PCIP) blocks for small publishers and self-publishing authors, and special projects including retrospective conversions, shelf-ready processing, non-MARC to MARC conversions, and cataloguing across 30 non-English languages. A staff of approximately 11 MLS-credentialed catalog librarians and specialists delivers expert human-reviewed metadata with Library of Congress subject headings, classification, and deep-linked URLs, distributed via FTP monthly updates and uploaded to OCLC WorldCat and SkyRiver bibliographic utilities.

The underlying technology centers on a Sirsi-Dynix-backed master database (CassidyCat 5.0 OPAC) that maintains over 100,000 catalog records with customization per client ILS, including Ex Libris Alma. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: subscription-based electronic resource catalog sets delivered as recurring monthly .mrc files, one-time PCIP licenses at a $145 standard price per English-language block, and professional services for backlog and special projects, plus annual CassidyCat OPAC subscriptions. Customers include law firm libraries, academic law and general libraries (Harvard Law School, Yale Lillian Goldman Library), court and state libraries (NY Supreme Court Libraries), and a long tail of small publishers served through the PCIP service.

The company sells primarily through direct inside sales (phone, email, conference presence), with marketing supported by a blog, monthly newsletter, and LinkedIn/Facebook presence. There is no external institutional investment; ownership remains with the Cassidy family, and operations are managed by co-founders alongside COO Megan Staloff (since 2007) and Director of Digital Operations Natalie White (since 2006).

Name

Cassidy Cataloguing Services

Legal name

Cassidy Cataloguing Services, Inc.

Website

https://cassidycataloguing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cassidy Cataloguing Services produces expert MARC21 RDA catalog records and PCIP blocks for law, academic, and specialized libraries, as well as small publishers. Founded in 1985 and based in Rockaway, NJ, the firm serves clients including HeinOnline, Westlaw, LexisNexis, and Harvard Law School.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockaway

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Electronic Resource Catalog Sets: MARC21 record sets for electronic resources from major publishers (HeinOnline, Westlaw, LexisNexis, etc.). Libraries receive archive files and monthly update files via FTP containing new and updated records.
2. Publishers' Cataloging-in-Publication (PCIP): PCIP blocks created for publishers and self-publishing authors. Standard price of $145 per English-language PCIP with additional charges for research time. Records loaded to OCLC WorldCat and SkyRiver.
3. Special Projects: Retrospective conversions, shelf-ready processing, non-MARC to MARC conversions, non-English materials cataloging, and backlog processing services.
4. CassidyCat 5.0 OPAC: Sirsi-Dynix backed OPAC subscription at a fraction of typical pricing. Includes database maintenance, customization, and access to electronic resource record sets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cassidy Cataloguing Services creates high-quality MARC21 RDA-format catalog records for libraries, publishers, and special collections. Its three core service lines are Electronic Resource Catalog Sets (records for major legal and scientific publishers delivered via FTP with monthly updates), Publishers' Cataloging-in-Publication (PCIP) blocks for book publishers, and Special Projects including retrospective conversions, shelf-ready processing, non-MARC to MARC conversions, and non-English language cataloguing. The firm also operates the CassidyCat 5.0 OPAC platform backed by Sirsi-Dynix.

Product overview

Cassidy Cataloguing Services is a professional library cataloguing firm founded in 1985, offering a portfolio of three core service lines: Electronic Resource Catalog Sets (MARC21 RDA records for legal, scientific, corporate, and specialized publishers), Publishers' Cataloging-in-Publication (PCIP) for book publishers, and Special Projects encompassing retrospective conversions, shelf-ready processing, non-MARC to MARC conversions, and non-English language cataloguing. The company also operates the CassidyCat 5.0 OPAC platform backed by Sirsi-Dynix. Its cataloguing covers major legal publishers (HeinOnline, Thomson Reuters Westlaw, LexisNexis, Wolters Kluwer VitalLaw, Fastcase, West Academic) and hundreds of smaller publishers, serving law, medical, scientific, corporate, court, state, county, and academic libraries. Records are delivered as MARC21 .mrc files via FTP or other means, with monthly update services, and uploaded to OCLC WorldCat and SkyRiver bibliographic utilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electronic Resource Catalog Sets

Quantifiable outcome

• Clean imports with minimal editing required
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OCLC WorldCatcoreTechnology or IntegrationPCIP bibliographic records uploaded monthly to OCLC WorldCat, one of the world's largest bibliographic databases. Records are uploaded by the third of each month and available in the utility by two weeks following.
• SkyRivercoreTechnology or IntegrationPCIP bibliographic records uploaded monthly to SkyRiver bibliographic utility. Records uploaded by the third of each month for discoverability by librarians and booksellers.
• Sirsi-DynixcoreTechnology or IntegrationCassidyCat 5.0 OPAC backed by Sirsi-Dynix technology, providing branded design and advanced search options for client libraries.
• MyWord PublishingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProfessional book shepherd recommended to clients who need help from start to finish with the publishing process.
• The Wonder LadyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProfessional book shepherd recommended to clients who need guidance through the entire publishing process.
• Creative Publishing PartnersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProfessional publishing services partner recommended to clients needing assistance with the publishing process.
• Riley-Infinity PressminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPublishing partner recommended to clients for guidance through the publishing process.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Backstage Library Works: Provides original and copy cataloging, retrospective conversions, authority control, and shelf-ready processing to academic, law, medical, and special libraries. The closest direct competitor to Cassidy's core professional services cataloging business.
• Marcive: Long-standing library cataloging and metadata services firm offering MARC records, authority control, Dewey and LC classification, and shelf-ready processing for libraries — a direct competitor across Cassidy's electronic resource and special project lines.
• Quality Books Inc (QBI): Provides PCIP, MARC record creation, and collection development services to libraries and publishers. Overlaps with Cassidy's PCIP and publisher-facing cataloging offerings.
• Brodart Books & Services: Provides collection development, cataloging, processing, and shelf-ready services to libraries — overlapping with Cassidy's special projects, shelf-ready processing, and PCIP-adjacent offerings.

Broad incumbents

• OCLC: WorldCat bibliographic utility and broader library cooperative. While a partner (Cassidy uploads PCIP records to OCLC), OCLC also offers metadata services and shared print/cataloging programs that compete with parts of Cassidy's value proposition at a much larger scale.
• SkyRiver: Bibliographic utility providing cataloging services and authority control. A distribution partner for Cassidy, but also a competing source of MARC records for libraries.
• Ex Libris (Clarivate): Major ILS and library services platform vendor (Alma, Primo, Vega). Cassidy's records are customized for Alma, and Ex Libris competes in adjacent metadata/data-layer services for academic libraries.
• SirsiDynix: Integrated library system vendor powering Cassidy's CassidyCat 5.0 OPAC. As one of the largest ILS providers, SirsiDynix is a partner but also embeds cataloging tools that compete with standalone services.

Others

• Library of Congress: Source of LC Subject Headings, classification schedules, and PCC cataloging standards that Cassidy follows. While not a commercial competitor, LC's free catalog data and pilot programs (e.g., BIBFRAME) shape the addressable market for Cassidy's services.

Emerging players

• Auto-Graphics: Provides library data services and resource sharing platforms (SHAREit, AGent ILL). Overlaps with Cassidy in adjacent library metadata workflows for public and consortia libraries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cassidycatinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/10487676
• Xx.com/cassidycat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cassidy Cataloguing Services