In general FRBR produced recommendations to make "optional" certain data elements hitherto considered "mandatory". In the new version of ISBD(M), inclusion of a data element is considered "mandatory" in all cases for certain data elements, and in other cases is considered "mandatory" when necessary for identification of the publication being described or otherwise considered important to users of a bibliography or a catalogue. To facilitate the application of the practices stipulated, ISBD(M) designates particular data elements as optional, i.e. a cataloguing agency is free to choose to include or exclude these elements. The policy is further explained within the document at 0.1.3, and a review of the Outline provided at paragraph 0.3.2 will reveal which data elements are optional.
The 2002 revision of the ISBD(M) will be published only on the Internet because the ISBD Review Group views it as an interim document subject to further review and revision in the near term. This continued attention to its provisions will be undertaken in an effort to take into consideration changes to national and multi-national cataloguing codes resulting from the need to adjust practices to fit the evolution of publications that has occurred in recent years -- in particular, the emergence of electronic resources. The Review Group is hopeful that the investigations and rule changes resulting from these code revision activities will facilitate its efforts to maintain the currency of the ISBDs as well.
jbyr@loc.gov
John Byrum, Jr., Chair, ISBD Review Group
Chief, Regional & Cooperative Cataloging
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C. 20540-4380
USA
Tel: +(202) 707-6511
Fax: +(202) 707-2824
