[DCRB-L] Fwd: AACR2 and MARC

Thu, 16 Jan 2003 11:58:38 -0500

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I am forwarding this message from Autocat because Gordon Pew makes an 
excellent point on why examples in AACR2 (and other codes, I would add) 
need to be in the MARC format.  I think this has been discussed in Bib 
Standards.  I hope we take this advice in formulating the DCRM chapters.

Jane

>Date:         Thu, 16 Jan 2003 10:37:06 -0600
>Reply-To: AUTOCAT <AUTOCAT@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU>,
>    Gordon Pew <gpew@law.harvard.edu>
>Sender: AUTOCAT <AUTOCAT@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU>
>From: Gordon Pew <gpew@law.harvard.edu>
>Subject: AACR2 and MARC
>To: AUTOCAT@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU
>X-YaleITSMailFilter: Version 1.0c (attachment(s) not renamed)
>
>In replying to the thread about how to record a reprint date, Mac Elrod
>commented, "Some decade I hope we will have the examples in AACR2 given
>with MARC coding".  I couldn't agree more.  It has often been noted on
>this list that AACR2 is a cataloging code that is supposed to be
>communications-format neutral.  It is designed to serve catalogers who use
>every kind of carrier from typed-up cards to integrated library systems:
>and, as presently constituted, it is for use by libraries employing
>USMARC, UKMARC, CANMARC, Australian MARC (or their successors), and
>probably others.
>
>Increasingly, however, national standards are moving toward harmonization,
>and non-Anglo-American schemes are being studied for harmonization as well
>(e.g., the German RAK, IIRC).  Increasingly, also, technology has allowed
>the automation of some of the smallest libraries.  These developments
>argue for the admission by the code-writers that the great majority of
>libraries interpret AACR2 through the MARC format.  There are some things
>in AACR2 that I find very cumbersome to place within the MARC format.
>One of the latest developments, the accommodation of earlier and current
>imprints for looseleafs and other integrating resources, is a case in
>point.  In AACR2, the provision of this information is made by notes: in
>the MARC format, the information is carried (or will be) in repeating 260
>fields.  In AACR2, 2002 revision, this is explained in 12.4 et seq., where
>one is instructed to use notes for earlier publishing information.  You
>must know the MARC format in order to know that you should enter earlier
>place and publisher in a second 260 field: and your automated system may
>or may not generate a note in the bibliographic record.  If it doesn't,
>you must add one manually.
>
>If "they" won't take the steps necessary to make the correlation between
>AACR2 and the MARC format, perhaps it is time for someone else to create a
>work that will provide this vital service for catalogers -- especially in
>a time when professional catalogers seem, literally, to be a dying breed.
>(And don't even get me started on the complications caused by the LCRIs!)
>
>Gordon Pew
>Head of Copy Cataloging and Database Management
>Harvard Law School Library
>164 Langdell Hall
>1545 Massachusetts Avenue
>Cambridge, Mass. 02138
>gpew@law.harvard.edu
>(617) 495-4487

Jane Gillis | Rare Book Cataloger|  Sterling Memorial Library
Yale University | New Haven CT  06520
(203)432-8383 (voice) | (203)432-7231 (fax) | jane.gillis@yale.edu

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I am forwarding this message from Autocat because Gordon Pew
makes an excellent point on why examples in AACR2 (and other codes, I
would add) need to be in the MARC format.&nbsp; I think this has been
discussed in Bib Standards.&nbsp; I hope we take this advice in
formulating the DCRM chapters. 
Jane 
 
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Date:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Thu, 16 Jan 2003 10:37:06 -0600 
Reply-To: AUTOCAT &lt;AUTOCAT@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU&gt;, 
&nbsp;&nbsp; Gordon Pew &lt;gpew@law.harvard.edu&gt; 
Sender: AUTOCAT &lt;AUTOCAT@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU&gt; 
From: Gordon Pew &lt;gpew@law.harvard.edu&gt; 
Subject: AACR2 and MARC 
To: AUTOCAT@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU 
X-YaleITSMailFilter: Version 1.0c (attachment(s) not renamed) 
In replying to the thread about how to record a reprint date, Mac
Elrod 
commented, &quot;Some decade I hope we will have the examples in AACR2
given 
with MARC coding&quot;.&nbsp; I couldn't agree more.&nbsp; It has often
been noted on 
this list that AACR2 is a cataloging code that is supposed to be 
communications-format neutral.&nbsp; It is designed to serve catalogers
who use 
every kind of carrier from typed-up cards to integrated library
systems: 
and, as presently constituted, it is for use by libraries employing 
USMARC, UKMARC, CANMARC, Australian MARC (or their successors), and 
probably others. 
Increasingly, however, national standards are moving toward
harmonization, 
and non-Anglo-American schemes are being studied for harmonization as
well 
(e.g., the German RAK, IIRC).&nbsp; Increasingly, also, technology has
allowed 
the automation of some of the smallest libraries.&nbsp; These
developments 
argue for the admission by the code-writers that the great majority
of 
libraries interpret AACR2 through the MARC format.&nbsp; There are some
things 
in AACR2 that I find very cumbersome to place within the MARC
format. 
One of the latest developments, the accommodation of earlier and
current 
imprints for looseleafs and other integrating resources, is a case
in 
point.&nbsp; In AACR2, the provision of this information is made by
notes: in 
the MARC format, the information is carried (or will be) in repeating
260 
fields.&nbsp; In AACR2, 2002 revision, this is explained in 12.4 et seq.,
where 
one is instructed to use notes for earlier publishing information.&nbsp;
You 
must know the MARC format in order to know that you should enter
earlier 
place and publisher in a second 260 field: and your automated system
may 
or may not generate a note in the bibliographic record.&nbsp; If it
doesn't, 
you must add one manually. 
If &quot;they&quot; won't take the steps necessary to make the
correlation between 
AACR2 and the MARC format, perhaps it is time for someone else to create
a 
work that will provide this vital service for catalogers -- especially
in 
a time when professional catalogers seem, literally, to be a dying
breed. 
(And don't even get me started on the complications caused by the
LCRIs!) 
Gordon Pew 
Head of Copy Cataloging and Database Management 
Harvard Law School Library 
164 Langdell Hall 
1545 Massachusetts Avenue 
Cambridge, Mass. 02138 
gpew@law.harvard.edu 
(617) 495-4487 </blockquote>
<x-sigsep></x-sigsep>
Jane Gillis | Rare Book Cataloger|&nbsp; Sterling Memorial Library 
Yale University | New Haven CT&nbsp; 06520 
(203)432-8383 (voice) | (203)432-7231 (fax) | jane.gillis@yale.edu 
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