REPORT OF THE MARBI/USMARC ADVISORY GROUP MEETING
Miami Beach, Florida, June 25-27, 1994
July 25, 1994
MARBI and the USMARC Advisory Group met in three sessions during the ALA Convention. Flo Wilson (Vanderbilt University) chaired the sessions. Priscilla Caplan (Harvard University) was selected chair beginning with the mid-winter meeting in February 1995.
Of particular interest to music librarians is Proposal 94-15 on the linking subfield. Although the subfield was not approved to the point needed to implement it, the concept was approved and individual groups have been asked to present proposals illustrating how the concept would be implemented for their materials. The Subcommittee on MARC Formats will be working with the MARBI office on a proposal for presentation in February. Proposals 94-12 and 94-13 should also be of some interest to music librarians.
The phased approach to format integration is proceeding on schedule at the Library of Congress. Format integration will be completed for fields 010-999 by January 1995 with the final phase comprising the remaining fields to be completed in the following year.
Proposals
94-9: Changes to the USMARC Bibliographic Format to Accommodate Online Systems and Services (Approved, with minor changes)
This proposal adds a code to the 008/26 (Type of computer file) to recognize the file as an online system or service. In addition, fields 270 (Primary address), 307 (Hours, etc.), and 506 (Eligibility, Fees, Procedures Note) were added to accommodate the online system or service.
94-10: Encoding of Patent Information in the USMARC Bibliographic Format (Discussion postponed)
This proposal calls for newly defining field 016 (Patent Control Information) in order to accommodate a subset of the standardized patent data elements in USMARC records. Complications with the use of the 016 field and lack of discussion time resulted in the decision to continue discussion of the proposal on USMARC-L and to ask for a resubmission, with revisions, at a later date.
94-11: Addition of Subfield $n (Note) in Field 037 (Source of Acquisition) in the USMARC Bibliographic Format (Approved, with minor changes)
This paper proposes the addition of a subfield $n (Note) in Field 037 for notes relating to the source of availability or acquisition of the item. Because $c (Terms of availability) in Field 037 already treats availability, $n (Note) was approved with a definition that refers only to the acquisition of the item.
94-12: Core Record Designation in USMARC Bibliographic Records (Option 2 approved)
This proposal gives options for designating that a bibliographic record meets the specifications for a core record. After much discussion concerning the difference between a National Level Record (NLR) and core record as defined by the Program for Cooperative Cataloging, the proposal's option 2 was approved. Option 2 adds value 3 (Core level) to Leader/17 (Encoding Level). Code 3 indicates a less-than-full but greater-than-minimal level record that meets core record standards for completeness. In addition, the code pcc (Program for Cooperative Cataloging) was defined for use in the 042, $a (Authentication Code). It signifies that the record is a Program for Coordinated Cataloging record. Although this proposal was brought forward by the Program for Cooperative Cataloging, the group noted that the use of code 3 in the Leader/17 would not be limited solely to records produced using that program's definition of core record.
94-13: Interactive Multimedia Code for USMARC Bibliographic Format (Option 1 approved)
This proposal gives options for designating that a bibliographic record is for an interactive multimedia item. The options presented were to either add a new code to 008/26 (Type of computer file) for Computer Files or to add a new code to Leader/06 (Type of material). After considering at length both the need to have something available for use soon and the inability to come to consensus on whether or not interactive multimedia was a computer file (among other concerns), it was decided to add a new code (j) to 008/26 (Type of computer file).
94-14: Extension of USMARC Authority Fields 053 and 083 for Local Use (Approved)
This paper proposes the second indicator and $5 be added to 053 and 083 to parallel those content designators in 050 and 082.
94-15: Field Link and Sequence Information in the USMARC Formats (Structure and syntax approved)
This proposal, brought forward by the Music Library Association and MARBI, suggests a generally applicable technique for linking and sequencing fields in all USMARC records. The structure and syntax for the field link and sequence subfield was approved as follows:
$8 <linking number>.<sequence number>\<field link type>
Field link types were presented in the proposal but it was decided to request that individual groups interested in implementing the linking field come back with proposals outlining their specific application. For music materials, the field link type is the component part elements (code c). A proposal will be brought forward for outlining the use of this field link type in music materials.
94-16: Encoding of Cancelled/Invalid Report Numbers in the USMARC Bibliographic Format (Option 2 approved)
This proposal calls for making changes in field 088 (Report Number) to accommodate cancelled and invalid report numbers. Approved was the defining of $z (Cancelled/invalid report number) in field 088 (Report Number). This definition is similar to the definition of subfields in fields 010, 020, 024, 027, 030, and 035.
94-17: Changes to the USMARC Bibliographic Format to Accommodate the Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) (Approved, some portions provisionally)
This proposal recommends adding provisions to accommodate the various data elements defined in the Federal Geographic Data Committees' Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata. Changes to the 034, 255, 355, and codes added in Field 008/22-23 (Projection) were approved. All other changes were approved provisionally.
Discussion Papers
DP 78: Location and Access Information for Non-Internet Resources in USMARC Records
This paper explores how to accommodate location and access information for electronic resources available through a dial-up connection. A proposal will be forthcoming.
DP 79: Defining Subfield $v for Form Subdivision in the USMARC Formats
This paper considers the impact of a new subfield code for form subdivisions. Issues considered were retrospective conversion, the use by online systems of a form subdivision subfield, issues of authority control, implementation options, and general user options. A proposal will be forthcoming.
DP 80: Defining a Component Item Entry Field in the USMARC Bibliographic Format
Discussion on this paper was postponed.
Submitted by Karen Little, Chair, Subcommittee on MARC Formats
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