Brackets

There is an interesting discussion on AUTOCAT about brackets. It seems ISBD has been changed so each subfield has opening and closing brackets. Like so, [S.l.] : [s.n.]. AACR would display as [S.l. : s.n.]. AACR won't be updated, but the replacement RDA currently follows the new ISBD rules. This poses the larger question, are we following AACR until RDA is published or moving in that direction now by following the new ISBD?

Fish4Info Released

Yet another open-source OPAC replacement has been released, Fish4Info.

Fish4Info is not an OPAC. Why not? OPACs connect users with MARC records when what they really want are resources. Fish4Info is focused on users, and provides a more positive finding experience (as opposed to a frustrating and fruitless search). We talked about book reviews and social connections and the power of a library portal that is a destination instead of a pass-through.

The modules in the code base include:
MARCImport - place a MARC file on the server and this transfers the data into Drupal nodes
BCCKReview - a book review module built using CCK
EZ-Amazon - helps you use an Amazon API developer’s key to access Amazon content
Some others I am sure I am forgetting, but which you will find in /drupal/sites/all/modules/…

Non-Latin Characters in Name Authority Records

News from the CPSO.

The major authority record exchange partners (British Library, Library of Congress, National Library of Medicine, and OCLC, Inc., in consultation with Library and Archives Canada) have agreed to a basic outline that will allow for the addition of references with non-Latin characters to name authority records that make up the LC/NACO Authority File.

While the romanized form will continue to be the authorized heading (authority record 1XX field), NACO contributors will be able to add references in non-Latin scripts following MARC 21’s “Model B” for multi-script records. Model B provides for unlinked non-Latin script fields with the same MARC tags used for romanized data, such as authority record 4XX fields. Using Model B for authorities is a departure from the current bibliographic record practice of many Anglo-American libraries where non-Latin characters are exported as 880 fields (Alternate Graphic Representation) using MARC 21’s “Model A” for multiscript records.

For the initial implementation period, the use of non-Latin scripts will be limited to those scripts that represent the MARC-8 repertoire of UTF-8 (Japanese, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Persian, Hebrew, Yiddish, Cyrillic, and Greek). Although the exchange of authority records between the NACO nodes will be in UTF-8, LC’s Cataloging Distribution Service will continue to supply the MDS-Authorities weekly subscription product in both UTF-8 and MARC-8 for some period of time. It is expected that the use of non-Latin scripts beyond the MARC-8 repertoire will be implemented in the future.

Virtual International Authority File

The research folks at OCLC have a Virtual International Authority File running.

The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek, the Library of Congress, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and OCLC are jointly conducting a project to match and link the authority records for personal names in the retrospective personal name authority files of the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (dnb), the Library of Congress (LC), and the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF).

Amazon MP3s

Amazon has started selling DRM-free MP3s. They are encoded at 256 kb and sell for 89 to 99 cents each. Does this pose a threat to iTunes? Well the convience is lacking at Amazon. At iTunes you get seamless throughput from iTunes to your computer to your iPod. At Amazon each of those steps requires something on my part. A little bit better skill set.

The other part is the catalog. No Beatles, almost no U2. They do have the Frank Sinatra With Bono song. Only one song by the Corrs. A good selection of Pentangle. I'll give it a try, but with the limited catalog and being less convient, I don't see this as an iTunes killer.

Movie Genre Terms in LSCH

The List of LCSH Moving Image Genre-Form Headings compiled by Scott M. Dutkiewicz is being updated weekly to show new terms available.

Map Cataloging

Problems That Arise When Providing Geographic Coordinate Information for Cataloged Maps by Jorge A. Gonzalez has just appeared in Coordinates.

This article explores the importance of correctly understanding, using, and interpreting map cataloging rules to provide the most accurate information possible, with the goal of making it possible to find maps quickly and accurately- whether using database retrieval or a coordinate-driven search engine. It is proposed that we can find an efficient universal method to represent locations, addresses, and areas of the world through the use of geographic coordinates for print and digital cartographic materials. Finally, the article states the strong need to standardize spatial cataloging information to improve search query responses by providing uniform information and by addressing the problems discussed in this article.

RSS Best Practices

Just as MARC gives the structure and AACR guides us on how to fill that structure, there now exists the same documents for RSS. The RSS specification gives the elements, the new Really Simple Syndication Best Practices Profile gives guidelines on how to use those elements. Comments are being accepted on the document.

When to Create a New Record

News from CC:DA.

We are pleased to announce publication of Differences Between, Changes Within: Guidelines on When to Create a New Record (revised edition, 2007). This revised edition is now available as a free, 38-page download (.pdf) and is no longer available as a print publication.

Originally intended to be an appendix to the 2002 AACR2 rule revisions, Differences Between, Changes Within evolved into a stand-alone document that supplements current descriptive cataloging rules by providing information about creating new records or updating existing records.

The document helps guide the cataloger in determining whether the item in hand can be cataloged with existing copy or requires a new bibliographic record. General guidelines are followed by specific guidelines for manifestation-level records for single-part monographs, multipart monographs, integrating resources, and serials. The text describes what constitutes a major difference between manifestations, requiring the creation of an original record, as well as detailing major changes within a serial manifestation that would lead to the creation of a new record. In addition, guidance is also provided to identify minor changes that would not require a new bibliographic record, but might necessitate updating an existing record.

The new edition of Differences Between, Changes Within reflects changes through the final set of amendments to AACR2, which were issued in 2005. Some guidelines have been changed and some removed. All rule references have been verified and updated wherever necessary.