NAME: MARC Format Alignment
SOURCE: National Library of Canada, Library of Congress, British Library
SUMMARY: This paper discusses the work on alignment of USMARC, CAN/MARC and UKMARC that is under discussion by the national libraries to increase interchange opportunities that are currently inefficient because of format differences.
RELATED:
KEYWORDS: CAN/MARC; UKMARC
STATUS/COMMENTS:
5/26/95 - Forwarded to USMARC Advisory Group for discussion at the June 1995 MARBI meeting.
6/26/95 - Results of USMARC Advisory Group discussion - Concern was expressed about the possibility of numerous changes, just as we complete format integration. Implementors would like to see a period of less change. The question was asked if the Authority format is also involved in the discussions.
DISCUSSION PAPER NO. 90: Format Alignment
1. INTRODUCTION
In November of 1994 representatives from the British Library (BL),
the Library of Congress (LC), and the National Library of Canada
(NLC) met in Washington, DC, to discuss the alignment of USMARC,
CAN/MARC, and UKMARC. A press release was issued after that
meeting and posted on several lists, including the USMARC Forum.
It stated the reasons for an attempt being made to completely align
the formats for the US, Canada, and the UK:
"Motivating the meeting was the prospect of the benefits the
three national libraries and their constituencies would
realize through the reconciliation of differences inherent in
their respective formats. Chief among the advantages foreseen
by the group was the potential for reducing the cost of
cataloging, as the elimination of key differences would
facilitate copy cataloging and record sharing. In turn, this
would allow libraries to redirect the savings gained to
cataloging of unique materials, thereby increasing the
coverage of the world's bibliographic output. The records
would be available in a more timely fashion since they would
require less mediation by catalogers, and they would no longer
be subject to a record format conversion process. By
obviating the need for such conversion, the three agencies
would optimize their resources. The number of total
conversion programs the agencies would need to write to
convert from other national formats would be reduced, and the
maintenance of those programs as well as the maintenance and
documentation of the common MARC format would be beneficially
streamlined.
In addition to helping catalogers and those responsible for
maintaining the format, format alignment would significantly
improve other library functions. For example, by facilitating
timely record sharing, alignment of the formats would assist
collection developers who would have earlier and more accurate
access to the bibliographic records representing recently
published works. Reference librarians and other online
searchers would profit from enhanced international cross-
catalog searching. Libraries in general would encounter
additional options for systems as vendor competition would
increase by virtue of having an expanded market they could
serve with a single format, rather than three variant formats.
Finally, building on the successful implementation of format
integration, MARC format developers would have a solid,
unified foundation on which to propose augmentation."
There were two major areas to be treated in the alignment process:
the arrangements for control and maintenance of the joint format
and the actual changes to content designation that might be
proposed to effect alignment. An ambitious timeline was set forth
that called for an issues paper on the maintenance mechanisms and
significant work to be complete on the content designation by the
end of May so they could be shared with the user groups in the
three countries. Below is a summary of papers on content
designation submitted by NLC and discussions held between LC and
the BL in May 1995 on format differences. It provides a good
overview of possible format changes. A more detailed document is
being created on which the USMARC community will be asked to
analyze cost and impact of proposed changes, in preparation for
further discussions by the national libraries.
It should be noted that Australia is becoming a USMARC user in 1996
and New Zealand has been using USMARC for a number of years. They
have not been a formal part of the alignment initiative, as they
were considered to be "not different". The National Library of
Australia is a member of the USMARC Advisory Group. There is close
collaboration between the National libraries in Australia and New
Zealand as they are jointly developing a new system for their
respective institutions. They will continue to be informed and
participate in this discussion through the USMARC Advisory Group.
2. DISCUSSION
In looking at alignment, account has been taken of the fact that
the USMARC constituency (and also the CAN/MARC users) went through
an in-depth review of the format in the format integration process.
At that time a number of simplification proposals were considered,
along with changes required for integration.
Differences between CAN/MARC and USMARC
The USMARC and CAN/MARC specifications are very close already as we
have had a long history of cooperation with Canada on format
development. In the last 5-10 years, format changes have been
virtually simultanious and almost identical. The following
differences would need to be dealt with to accommodate CAN/MARC.
If a data element is in USMARC but different it is noted. If it is
not in USMARC and there are no conflicts for the value of code,
then nothing is stated about USMARC.
CAN/MARC USMARC
LDR/05 - Record Status
a Previously partial record a Increase in encoding level
LDR/17 - Encoding Level
-------- # Full with item
0 Full level with item --------
3 Abbreviated record --------
5 Partial record 5 Partial/prelim. record
6 Minimal level --------
7 Preliminary record 7 Minimal level
007 - Globe // 01 - Specific material designation
d Satellite globe --------
e Lunar globe (earth moon) --------
u unknown --------
007 - Globe // 02 - Original vs. reproduction aspect
Undefined Defined (not used)
007 - Sound Recording // 09 - Kind of disc, cylinder, or tape
t Test pressing --------
008 - All // 38 - Modified record code
r Romanized record r Completely romanized/printed
cards romanized
-------- o Completely romanized/printed
cards in script
008 - All // 39 - Cataloging source
# National Library of Canada # Library of Congress
-------- a NAL
-------- b NLM
c Cooperative cataloging c Library of Congress coop.
cat. program
d Another nat. lib. cat. d Other
l LC cataloging --------
-------- n Report to NST
o Other --------
r Reporting library, MARA --------
008 - All // 40 - Fill character usage
Cp defined Cp not defined
0 Fill char. not used
1 Fill char. used in control fields
2 Fill char. used in variable fields
9 Fill char. used in control and var. fields
008 - Books // 24-27 - Nature of Contents
j Patents --------
k Official standards k Discographies
m Thesis --------
q Examination papers q Filmographies
-------- t Technical reports
x Technical reports --------
z Treaties --------
3 Discographies --------
4 Filmographies --------
008 - Books // 33 - Fiction
# Non-fiction --------
c Comic strip --------
d Drama --------
e Essays --------
f Fiction --------
h Humor, satire, etc. --------
i Letter --------
j Short stories --------
m Miscellaneous info. --------
p Poetry --------
s Speeches --------
-------- 0 Not fiction
-------- 1 Fiction
008 - Maps // 18-21 - Relief
c Gradient tints c Gradient tints, color
h Color h color [obsolete]
u Unknown --------
008 - Maps // 22-23 - Projection
az Azimuthal, other type --------
bz Cylindrical, other --------
cz Conic, other type --------
008 - Maps // 24-25 - Prime meridian
CANMARC has 39 prime meridian values, using 2 character
positions for them. USMARC has only 7 values, in cp 24. Six
of the 7 USMARC merdians are also in the CAN/MARC list.
USMARC uses cp 25 for Type of cartographic material.
008 - Maps // 30 - Narrative text
Cp defined Cp not defined
0 No text present
1 Text on cartographic item
2 Text accompanies cartographic item
008 - Maps // 31 - Index
1 Index on item 1 Index present
2 Index accompanies item --------
008 - Music // 18-19 - Form of Composition
bd Ballads --------
rp Rhapsodies --------
sd Square dance music --------
008 - Music // 24-27 - Accompanying textual material
Cp 24-27 used Cp 24-29 used
l Biography of arranger --------
or transcriber
008 - Music // 28 - Government publication
Cp defined Cp used for acc. mat.
CAN/MARC has the usual values for government publication.
008 - Music // 29
Cp not defined Cp used for acc. mat.
008 - Serials // 24 - Nature of entire work
-------- k Discographies
-------- q Filmographies
t University calendars t Technical reports
x Technical reports --------
3 Discographies --------
4 Filmographies --------
008 - Serials // 25-27 - Nature of contents
-------- k Discographies
-------- q Filmographies
t University calendars t Technical reports
x Technical reports --------
3 Discographies --------
4 Filmographies --------
008 - Visual Materials // 23 - Form of item
Cp defined for form of item Cp used for acc. mat.
# None of the following # No accompanying mat.
a Microfilm --------
b Microfiche --------
c Microopaque --------
008 - Visual Material // 24-27 - Accompanying material
Cp 24-27 used Cp 23-27 used
a Language material, printed --------
c Music, printed --------
d Diorana --------
e Map, printed --------
f Filmstrip --------
g Game --------
h Microform --------
i Sound rec., non-musical --------
j Sound rec., musical --------
k Picture --------
l MRDF l Stills
m Motion picture m Script material
n Chart --------
o Flash card o Posters
p Microscope slide p Pressbooks
q Model q Lobby cards
r Realia r Instructional materials
s Slide s Music
t Transparency --------
v Videorecording --------
009 - Cartographic Material
Field defined Field not defined
016 - National Library of Canada Record Control Number
Field defined Field not defined
024 - Other Standard Identifier // Ind 2 - Difference indicator
-------- # No information provided
0 Eye readable 0 No difference
1 Scanned if different from 1 Difference
eye-readable
028 Publisher Number for Music // Ind 2 - Note controller
0 Print a note 0 No note, no added entry
1 Do not print a note 1 Note, added entry
-------- 2 Note, no added entry
-------- 3 No note, added entry
034 - Coded Cartographic Mathematical Data // $a Category of
scale
c Other type of scale z Other type of scale
046 - Type of Date Code
$6 Linkage --------
050 - Library of Congress Call Number // Ind 2 - Source of call
number
# Information not provided --------
060 - National Library of Medicine Call Number // Ind 2 - Source
of call number
# Information not provided --------
082 - Dewey Decimal Call Number // Ind 2
Ind 2 not defined Ind 2 - Source of call number
0 Assigned by LC
4 Assigned by agency other
than LC
084 - Other Class Number
-------- $6 Linkage
086 - Government Document Classification Number // Ind 2 <no
name>
Ind 2 defined Ind 2 not defined
# when Ind 1 is not "1"
0 IC cat. no.
1 Cat. IC no.
2 QP cat. no.
3 Cat.IR no.
4 DSS cat. no.
5 Cat. MAS, no Ind = #
087 - Report Number
Field defined Field content in 088
088 - Document Shelving Number (CODOC)
Field defined Defined as 008 - Report Number
300 - Physical Description
$d Accompanying material --------
-------- $e Accompanying material
-------- $f Type of unit
440 - Series Statement/Added Entry - Title
$h General material desig. --------
583 - Action Note
$8 Link and sequence no. --------
654 - Subject Added Entry - Faceted Topical Terms
-------- $y Chronological subdivision
-------- $z Geographical subdivision
751 - Geographic Name/Area Name Entry
Field defined Field not defined
Ind 1 - undefined
Ind 2 - Type
0 Primary geographic/area entry
1 Secondary geographic/area entry
2 Analytical geographic entry
$a Geographic name or area element
$b Element following entry element
$6 Linkage
886 - Foreign MARC Information Field
Ind 1 - undefined Ind 1 - Type of field
0 Leader
1 Control fields(002-009)
2 Variable fields(010-999)
$c Control field (002-009) --------
$d Variable field(010-999) --------
-------- $2 Source of data
9XX - Equivalence, Cross-References and History Notes
Fields defined Field not defined
Differences between UKMARC and CANMARC/USMARC
As is indicated below there are numerous detail differences between
USMARC and UKMARC content designation, yet since the cataloging
traditions have been closely aligned for a number of years, much of
the data is very consistent with the data found in USMARC records.
This consistency will probably be enhanced in the future. As part
of an initiative to have the BL become a partner in NACO, LC's CPSO
is working closely with BL cataloging staff on cataloging
differences, especially related to the formulation of headings.
The BL is also in the process of re-adopting LCSH for subject
access to its records.
The BL is discussing with the UKMARC community the alignment with
USMARC and CAN/MARC, while identifying some fields that appear in
UKMARC that are not in USMARC. The UKMARC format is primarily
focussed on book material and was not been fully or consistently
enhanced for other forms of material. The fullness of USMARC is
seen as an advantage and would avoid duplicate development and
expansion of UKMARC. The following roughly indicates the
differences between UKMARC and USMARC.
General differences
UKMARC does not carry ISBD punctuation at the subfield boundries,
resulting in more subfielding than in USMARC. USMARC is designed
for use by various groups using cataloging rules of their choice,
some of which are ISBD-based and but others are not; therefore
the ISBD punctuation is carried within fields when it is
required.
UKMARC uses 0 frequently in indicator positions where USMARC
would use a blank, for example, if the indicator is not defined
the value 0 is used.
The UKMARC character set is not exactly the same as USMARC,
although it incorporates ASCII and most of the extended ANSEL
characters. The superscripts and subscripts are not defined.
LDR
Differences in values used.
007
Not currently defined in UKMARC.
008
Only a Books 008 (with a few non-book cps) currently defined in
UKMARC. A few cps need to be examined. Fiction indicator,
Target audience, prime meridian, and government publication cps
have some differences in values.
0XX
A number of USMARC fields are not defined in UKMARC. The ISBN
uses 021 instead of 020. The BL system control number is in 024.
UKMARC 031 and 032 have special cartographic data. UKMARC 081
is used for DDC numbers from "old" editions.
1XX/4XX/6XX/7XX/8XX heading fields
Differences in cataloging need to be reconciled before the format
is aligned (work underway). Major differences in subfielding.
2XX
Differences in cataloging need to be reconciled before format is
aligned (work underway). UKMARC 248 used for second and
subsequent level titles. Edition and publisher statements have
additional subfielding in UKMARC.
3XX
Physical description statement has additional subfielding in
UKMARC. Most other fields not defined in UKMARC.
440/490
UKMARC has additional subfielding.
5XX
Different tags used for same notes. Further examination needed.
76X-79X
Not presently in UKMARC.
841-89X
Not presently in UKMARC.
Next Steps
The differences noted above will be reviewed by the CAN/MARC and
UKMARC communities during the June-July time period. The Library
of Congress, National Library of Canada, and the British Library
will then meet to formulate more precise proposals. These will be
circulated to the respective communities by the end of 1995 for
impact and cost assessment to be made by format users. In the
U.S., the proposals should be ready for discussion of impacts at
the Jan./Feb. 1996 MARBI meeting.
Library of Congress