Weiss, 'MARC Notes', LITA Newsletter v15n01 URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/lita/lita-v15n01-weiss-marc V15N1.MARCNOTE LITANEWS ----------- MARC Notes Paul Weiss Multiple Formats DISCUSSION PAPER 67 (Multiple versions in the USMARC formats) generated heated discussion. There was no consensus for any of the proposed techniques (full separate bibliographic record, minimal separate bibliographic record, and dependent bibliographic record) or for another solution. The only agreement reached was that a decision could not be made at this time. Proposal 93-7 (Additions/changes to bibliographic and holdings field 024), option 1, was approved as amended. The issue was how to incorporate into the USMARC record other kinds of numbers than ones currently provided for, e.g., International Standard Music Number and Serial Item and Contribution Identifier. The scope of field 024 was expanded; its name was changed from "Standard recording number" to " Other standard number or code." The ISMN was added as an additional first indicator value. The second indicator was defined as "Appearance of number or code" with values for eye-readable and scanned. Discussion Paper 69 (Accommodating online systems and services in USMARC) will return as a proposal. The overarching question was whether to use the bibliographic format or the community information format, with the group leaning towards the former. Either format would likely have to be enhanced with fields from the other format to accommodate these systems and services. Specific data elements were discussed briefly, as was linking between these kinds of records and records for data resources (e.g., linking the records for Compendex plus and Dialog). Discussion Paper 68 (An 007 physical description fixed field for computer files) will return as a proposal. Possibilities for data elements include specific material designation, color, magnetic tape aspect, sound, density and dimensions. General Proposal 93-9 (File label specifications for USMARC records transferred by FTP), option 1, was approved as amended. The file label will be a separate file, although the sender and recipient of the data may agree to compress a file label and its data set into a single file. Eleven data elements were proposed. Changes included reordering the data elements, making Volume and Issue variable length, adding Data set name, using an end-of-field mark for each field and eliminating a maximum field length. Proposal 93-10 (Additions to the USMARC Latin character set) was approved as amended. The proposal called for adding the ASCII characters spacing underscore (_), opening brace ({) and closing brace (}) to the USMARC Basic Latin character set, and the ANSEL characters degree sign, script l, phono copyright symbol (circled P), copyright symbol, musical sharp (#), inverted question mark and inverted exclamation point to the USMARC Extended Latin character set. At the meeting, the characters cent sign, section symbol, pi, chi, trademark symbol, service symbol and spacing tilde (~) were added. This brings USMARC in full alignment with ANSEL. The only characters not included from ASCII are spacing circumflex (^) and spacing grave (`), neither of which were felt to be of use. Bibliographic Format Proposal 93-12 (Additions to accommodate curriculum information) was approved as amended. A first indicator value to indicate a review was added to 520 (Summary, etc., note). First indicator values to indicate special characteristics and motivation/interest level were added to 521 (Target audience note). It was clarified that the former means special characteristics of the potential user, not the item; therefore a note about close captioning will not be stored here. Appropriate examples were also added. A new field 658 (Index term--curriculum objective) was added. Proposal 93-11 (Handling faceted data in field 655), option 1, was approved. A first indicator was defined for type of heading, with values for basic and faceted, the name of $a was changed from "Genre/form" to "Genre/form data or focus term" and $b (Non-focus term) and $c (Facet/hierarchy designation) were added. Discussion Paper 70 (Accommodating patent data) was discussed, with additional comments to be posted on the electronic USMARC list; eventually a proposal will be developed. The scope of the paper is meant to include records for patent documents themselves as well as items which discuss patented products, etc. Data elements from the NISO standards for patent application data and patent documents, the international standard for patent documents, and LC National Translation Center patent records were reviewed. Comments on which data elements should be included should be sent to the LC Network Development and MARC Standards Office. Proposal 93-6 (Changes to field 654) was approved, with editorial cleanup to come. Field 654 (Subject added entry--faceted topical terms) $a (Focus term) was made repeatable to allow Art and Architecture Thesaurus users to have more than one focus term in a single heading. Additionally, the name of $b was changed from "Term" to "Non-focus term." Discussion Paper 66 (Possible future field 654 considerations) was favorably discussed. The music library community is in the planning stages of producing a faceted thesaurus for music. The discussion paper raised some issues that will come up with the thesaurus's development, such as the addition of subfields for number and total number of instruments, etc. It was felt that it would make sense to wait to bring a proposal until the thesaurus actually needs the subfields and that they would probably need to be added also to 655. Authority Format Proposal 93-8 (Definition of 008/18-21) engendered lively discussion. These new 008 bytes would be patterned after existing bytes /14-16, which indicate whether the heading is appropriate for use in a bibliographic record as a main or added entry, a subject added entry, and/or a series added entry. Bytes /18-21 would indicate appropriateness for use as a genre/form index term (655), an occupation index term (656), a function index term (657), and a physical characteristics added entry (755). Participants in the discussion were roughly evenly divided on whether to have a single record for all uses of a heading or to use multiple records. It was decided to get input from major vocabulary developers. New Formats Discussion Paper 71 (Considerations on a patron record format) was debated. Advantages and disadvantages of X12 and USMARC were discussed. It was felt that other communities needed to be consulted. The issue will be referred to AVIAC, to be developed in X12. Classification Format A message sent out on the electronic USMARC list about combining $y (Table identification--schedule) and $z (Table identification--table number) into a single subfield was discussed and approved in concept; a formal proposal will be brought to MARBI later. Table identification data (which exists in X53, 6XX, 761, 763, and 765 fields) was originally split into two subfields to facilitate printing the tables, but LC no longer considers this desirable. Other Just prior to Annual Conference, it was announced that format integration was being postponed from first quarter 1994 until last quarter 1995. At the Conference, RLG suggested a phased approach--implementing the variable field changes in 1994 and the leader and 006-008 changes in 1995. A decision meeting was planned for August. [At this meeting it was decided to go along with RLG's proposal.] LC is considering whether to publish a very short summary of the USMARC formats, a "concise Concise". Meeting attendees were generally favorable; additional comments are welcome. MARBI has been asked by the ALCTS Executive Board to review its charge. The electronic list USMARC-L, hosted at the University of Maine, has been renamed USMARC and moved to LC.