Persistent Uniform Resource Locator (PURL)

I'm not sure why these never have taken off like wildfire. There is a need for a system to redirect users to the proper item on the Web. The co-operative upkeep of links saves time and ensures that the links are checked and corrected more often. The server software is free. In addition, OCLC provides a site for those who do not wish or need to install the resolver.

Beside OCLC, the GPO is using them. When I found a bad link I e-mailed them and it was fixed, not only for me but also for all who had that MARC record. CONSER is conducting a study of using them. Why are not these being used by Web rings, surely each site would share many of the same links. Municipalities and states could set one up covering sites in their geographic area.

MARC Organization Codes

Now it is possible to search these codes by either the code or name of an organization. This could also be useful in tracking down an address or a name for authority work. It is a good idea to check and make sure your name and address is current.

If your organization needs a code, you can apply for one on-line in English, in Spanish and in Portuguese. It takes about 2 weeks to process the request

Cataloging Theory and History

I've been reading a book which should be required reading in all cataloging classes and history of librarianship classes, Seymour Lubetzky: Writings on the Classical Art of Cataloging edited by Svenonius and McGarry. Most working catalogers would also benefit from reading at least some of these writings by a person who was involved in shaping cataloging rules for the latter half of the century. His thought is clear and his writing direct. Anyone interested in the reason for cataloging, main entry, form of entry for names and titles, and the ideological history of bibliographic control would benefit form this book. Highly recommended.

Authority Records

I was asked where to find training in authority records. I can't find any online. The best is that offered by the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) as NACO or SACO training. If you have the chance, take it. SACO training is offered each year at ALA. NACO is offered at the OLAC annual conference. Training is also offered at other times and places. There is also lots of documentation available at the Web site.

Another issue is how to encode the information in the MARC format. The official documentation is the MARC 21 Concise Authority. I sometimes like to read another description and see some more examples. The Tag of the Month covers some of the more important fields.

MARC21 Authority Records for GSAFD Genre Terms

Guidelines on Subject Access to Individual Works of Fiction, Drama, Etc., 2nd edition, was published in 2000 . The Guidelines constitute a recommendation for national standard practice in the provision of genre and subject access to individual works of fiction, drama, poetry, humor, and folklore in all formats.

In order to provide libraries with the ability to more fully implement the Guidelines and provide enhanced access to works of fiction in library catalogs, machine-readable authority records have been created for the form/genre headings in chapter 1 of GSAFD. A file of the records in the MARC 21 format is available for loading into library databases. The size of the file is 58 KB, and it contains 153 records. An ASCII version of the file (71 KB) is also available for viewing and printing with a text editor.

For further information, and to access the files, visit: http://www.ala.org/alcts/organization/ccs/sac/gsafdauthority.html Thanks to those making these freely available.