"It's impossible these days to read a library journal, attend a library conference, or even have an informal chat with other librarians without hearing the phrases "MARC format", "MARC records" or "MARC-compatible" (Understanding MARC Bibliographic: Parts 1-6)
I knew I wasn't far off in my last blog entry when I described librarians as having their own unique language and lingo. Even the document Understanding MARC Bibliographic states, "it is not unusual to hear librarians speaking in 'MARCese'" (Part III, p.7). At this point, I truly feel like I'm taking a crash course in an entirely new language.
Some musings (or is it "a-musings") on Chapter 12: Computer Encoding (Computer Markup)
The History of MARC...(a non-fictional story)
Once upon a time (in the 1960's) a protocol named MARC was "born" to a woman named Henriette Avram. And so goes the history of MARC: Machine Readable Cataloguing, who is now 21! Soon other countries wanted to adopt MARC for their very own. The result? Harmonization throughout Library Land. Following this, four other MARC sibling formats were brought into the world, each with their own special purpose. While the older MARC's life purpose was to encode bibliographic data (His full name being MARC Bibliographic) another MARC specialized in authority data, and yet another--holdings data, with the final two MARCS being capable of classification data and community information respectively. Their names were: MARC Authorities, MARC Classification, MARC Holdings and MARC Community Information.
MARC Bibliographic did not become an orphan when Henriette died in 2006. Rather, the LC = Library of Congress and the LAC = Library and Archives Canada and the British Library all have ultimate authority over MARC. But MARC need not worry about all these authorities--it can take months or years before any proposed "changes" in MARC's encoding practice is "on the ground." (The End)
Okay, that's MARC history in a nutshell for me (not to trivialize it--just my means of making sense of it and remembering details!)
Some definitions from Chapter 12: Computer Encoding:
Computer Encoding (also known as computer markup) is putting bibliographic records into a presentable format for a computer to "read" it (accept the data and identify the parts).
Encoding Protocols or Markup Languages are the sets of instructions used to do computer encoding.
MARC: is the primary encoding or markup language for library data. It is an encoded version of a catalog record, containing all the information used in a catalog record plus added info needed for computer processing. (cataloguing data=content; everything else added = encoding)
Elements of MARC Records:
MARC records are divided into parts called fields.
Field: one part of a record corresponding to one area of description
0XX Fixed fields and control numbers (call number, ISBN, LCCN etc.)
1XX Main entries: personal author, corporate body author, conference names, uniform title entries
2XX Transcribed titles, editions, material specific details, publication/dist. info
3XX Physical descriptions
4XX Transcribed series statements
5XX Descriptive Notes
6XX Subject Descriptors
7XX Added Entries (names of contributors, other titles, titles proper (the main title)
8XX Series added entries
9XX Local data
Subfield: part of a field
Subfield code: a character identifying the subfield and the data it contains.
Tag: the three digit code identifying a field
Delimiter: a symbol identifying the start of a subfield. ($) (@)
Indicators: special values that instruct the computer to manipulate data in a particular way. ie) in the 245 field, the 1st indicator value controls making an added entry for title proper. The 2nd indictor value controls indexing of title proper. (Two character positions are available between the tag and the start of data in a field are for indicators). Indicators are not defined fro every field.
Content Designators: all of the characters or combinations of characters identifying specific parts of bibliographic, authority, or holdings records, and the kinds of data held in them. Basically--everything other than the content itself.
Content Designation: the process of encoding or marking up a catalog record in MARC format. It's also called "coding" or "tagging".
Metadata: data about data (refers to info added to electronic documents that identifies them and makes them retrievable.
Other Markup Languages:
DC= Dublin Core (1995): a set of 16 core elements for describing electronic documents
MODS= Metadata Object Description Schema: designed to be compatible with MARC, has language-based tags and 19 top-level elements
VRA Core = The Visual Resources Association: developed its own set of elements to describe art works (17 basic elements)
EAD = Encoded Archival Description: for the description of archival materials
Some further gleanings after reading the (sigh...) the 46 pages of Understanding MARC Bibliographic: Parts 1-6
Frankly, I was surprised by this quote: "Many library professionals have not had an opportunity to take formal courses explaining the important topics of library automation and the role of MARC, yet automated library systems may be important parts of their libraries."
But why should I raise my eyebrows? I've existed as a part-time teacher-librarian in a secondary school for almost two years--tossing about the term MARC record like it was an "old friend". Yet, until now, I didn't even know what the acronym stood for!
On the importance of One Standard: Using MARC allows us to better share bibliographic resources and acquire cataloguing that is predictable and reliable. It prevents duplication of work and allows us to take advantage of library automation systems (like Destiny) designed to work with MARC.
Non-filing characters: (The) displays the number of characters to be disregarded by the computer.
Authority Control: following a recognized or established form ie) choosing subject and name headings from a list of approved headings. (NOT - "the library remains quiet at all times" as suggested in one of the multiple choice questions on the review quiz!)
ie) for Names: the best authority is the Library of Congress Name Authority File
ie) for topics or geographic names the common lists are Library of Congress Subject Headings or Sears List of Subject Headings
Finally, a helpful quote I plan to use the next time I'm told to "Use a parent volunteer for cataloguing" : "Clearly, the contents of the bibliographic records will determine the success of a library's automated operations to a great extent, for you and your patrons. It is very important to ensure receipt of the highest quality records available."
I knew I wasn't far off in my last blog entry when I described librarians as having their own unique language and lingo. Even the document Understanding MARC Bibliographic states, "it is not unusual to hear librarians speaking in 'MARCese'" (Part III, p.7). At this point, I truly feel like I'm taking a crash course in an entirely new language.
Some musings (or is it "a-musings") on Chapter 12: Computer Encoding (Computer Markup)
The History of MARC...(a non-fictional story)
Once upon a time (in the 1960's) a protocol named MARC was "born" to a woman named Henriette Avram. And so goes the history of MARC: Machine Readable Cataloguing, who is now 21! Soon other countries wanted to adopt MARC for their very own. The result? Harmonization throughout Library Land. Following this, four other MARC sibling formats were brought into the world, each with their own special purpose. While the older MARC's life purpose was to encode bibliographic data (His full name being MARC Bibliographic) another MARC specialized in authority data, and yet another--holdings data, with the final two MARCS being capable of classification data and community information respectively. Their names were: MARC Authorities, MARC Classification, MARC Holdings and MARC Community Information.
MARC Bibliographic did not become an orphan when Henriette died in 2006. Rather, the LC = Library of Congress and the LAC = Library and Archives Canada and the British Library all have ultimate authority over MARC. But MARC need not worry about all these authorities--it can take months or years before any proposed "changes" in MARC's encoding practice is "on the ground." (The End)
Okay, that's MARC history in a nutshell for me (not to trivialize it--just my means of making sense of it and remembering details!)
Some definitions from Chapter 12: Computer Encoding:
Computer Encoding (also known as computer markup) is putting bibliographic records into a presentable format for a computer to "read" it (accept the data and identify the parts).
Encoding Protocols or Markup Languages are the sets of instructions used to do computer encoding.
MARC: is the primary encoding or markup language for library data. It is an encoded version of a catalog record, containing all the information used in a catalog record plus added info needed for computer processing. (cataloguing data=content; everything else added = encoding)
Elements of MARC Records:
MARC records are divided into parts called fields.
Field: one part of a record corresponding to one area of description
0XX Fixed fields and control numbers (call number, ISBN, LCCN etc.)
1XX Main entries: personal author, corporate body author, conference names, uniform title entries
2XX Transcribed titles, editions, material specific details, publication/dist. info
3XX Physical descriptions
4XX Transcribed series statements
5XX Descriptive Notes
6XX Subject Descriptors
7XX Added Entries (names of contributors, other titles, titles proper (the main title)
8XX Series added entries
9XX Local data
Subfield: part of a field
Subfield code: a character identifying the subfield and the data it contains.
Tag: the three digit code identifying a field
Delimiter: a symbol identifying the start of a subfield. ($) (@)
Indicators: special values that instruct the computer to manipulate data in a particular way. ie) in the 245 field, the 1st indicator value controls making an added entry for title proper. The 2nd indictor value controls indexing of title proper. (Two character positions are available between the tag and the start of data in a field are for indicators). Indicators are not defined fro every field.
Content Designators: all of the characters or combinations of characters identifying specific parts of bibliographic, authority, or holdings records, and the kinds of data held in them. Basically--everything other than the content itself.
Content Designation: the process of encoding or marking up a catalog record in MARC format. It's also called "coding" or "tagging".
Metadata: data about data (refers to info added to electronic documents that identifies them and makes them retrievable.
Other Markup Languages:
DC= Dublin Core (1995): a set of 16 core elements for describing electronic documents
MODS= Metadata Object Description Schema: designed to be compatible with MARC, has language-based tags and 19 top-level elements
VRA Core = The Visual Resources Association: developed its own set of elements to describe art works (17 basic elements)
EAD = Encoded Archival Description: for the description of archival materials
Some further gleanings after reading the (sigh...) the 46 pages of Understanding MARC Bibliographic: Parts 1-6
Frankly, I was surprised by this quote: "Many library professionals have not had an opportunity to take formal courses explaining the important topics of library automation and the role of MARC, yet automated library systems may be important parts of their libraries."
But why should I raise my eyebrows? I've existed as a part-time teacher-librarian in a secondary school for almost two years--tossing about the term MARC record like it was an "old friend". Yet, until now, I didn't even know what the acronym stood for!
On the importance of One Standard: Using MARC allows us to better share bibliographic resources and acquire cataloguing that is predictable and reliable. It prevents duplication of work and allows us to take advantage of library automation systems (like Destiny) designed to work with MARC.
Non-filing characters: (The) displays the number of characters to be disregarded by the computer.
Authority Control: following a recognized or established form ie) choosing subject and name headings from a list of approved headings. (NOT - "the library remains quiet at all times" as suggested in one of the multiple choice questions on the review quiz!)
ie) for Names: the best authority is the Library of Congress Name Authority File
ie) for topics or geographic names the common lists are Library of Congress Subject Headings or Sears List of Subject Headings
Finally, a helpful quote I plan to use the next time I'm told to "Use a parent volunteer for cataloguing" : "Clearly, the contents of the bibliographic records will determine the success of a library's automated operations to a great extent, for you and your patrons. It is very important to ensure receipt of the highest quality records available."
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