Resource Description and Access

About: Resource Description and Access is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1859 publications have been published within this topic receiving 10957 citations. The topic is also known as: RDA & Resource Description & Access.

The Washington Library Network's Computerized Bibliographic System.

Abstract: The Washington Library Network is developing a computer-assisted bibliographic system to speed and expand library operations throughout the state. Features include MARC format with all content designators, subject and name authority files, sorting by LC rules, and stringent quality control. Future modules will add acquisition/accounting and circulation support. Online capabilities are currently under development. This paper describes the present batch-mode cataloging support subsystem, its history, operation, impacts, problems, and costs. Present developmental efforts toward online integrated acquisitions and cataloging support are indicated. INTRODUCTION The Washington Library Network (WLN) is developing a computer system to speed and expand library operations. The WLN emphasizes the sharing of resources among all types of libraries and the economies of a centralized computer-communications system to provide assistance for libraries' internal functions, boosting the power of libraries to respond to today's rapidly increasing information demands within ever-tighter funding patterns. Such a system would incorporate at least the following qualities: * Adaptability to various computer configurations and library requirements; * Ability to access and update current data in an online mode; * Assistance to most library functions: order and receipt, cataloging and processing of materials, accounting, circulation, reference searching; * Ability to handle all kinds of bibliographic records; * Careful quality control for accuracy and completeness of data; * Ability to intake and output MARC II formatted records, for standardized communication with other libraries' computer systems; and * Capacity to serve multiple libraries in a network configuration. This computer-communications system is designed with the potential to be broadened to a multistate network, to be interfaced with or be emulated by other libraries' or states' computer systems, and subsequently to become an integral part of national and international information networks. A basic assumption is that the totality of library information in any area or state or region or in the entire nation is a people's resource which, as with the educational system, should be sustained and made available equally to all in the public interest. All citizens, regardless of domicile location or economic or physical problems, should expect convenient access to library resources and information services for their self-enrichment, economic well-being, and entertainment. With the help of new technologies, the ability of libraries to provide their constituents with wanted resources can be improved. The Washington Library Network is the outgrowth of statewide planning to realize this overriding concern. ENVIRONMENT OF SYSTEM Library development in Washington encompasses a long history of intrastate and interstate cooperation. An early expression of the latter is the establishment of the Pacific Northwest Bibliographic Center (PNBC) in 1940 to serve Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia (later adding Alaska); PNBC was reorganized in 1970 to improve the interlibrary loan flow throughout the region. Based on a long-range library development plan initiated by the Washington Library Association in the 1930s, fifteen district library systems now coordinate public library services to over 60 percent of the state's population. (Only 4 percent of the population lack public library service at present, with 36 percent served by municipal and club libraries.) Active cooperation continues to expand with such endeavors as community college consortia, area programs involving various types of libraries, liberalized interlibrary loan procedures, and multidistrict patron cards. Various intrastate serials listings have been published: e.g., a statewide serials title list, a serials holdings list at the University of Washington, and a union list of serials holdings for the libraries in the Spokane area. …

Cataloging and Classification History in Mexico

Abstract: This article discusses cataloging and classification history in Mexico and how cataloging and classification have evolved according to the changes that libraries and library science have experienced on both a national and international level. The first part of the article refers to the first half of the twentieth century, detailing the origins of cataloging and classification history. The second part presents discussion of the development and consolidation of both cataloging and classification during the second half of the twentieth century. The article also discusses subject headings, automation, centralization, and union catalogs in Mexico. It discusses past difficulties in creating a union catalog at a national level and the advantages of automated systems in helping to develop this needed union catalog. The article discusses the need to publication of the Bibliografia Mexicana. One of the main problems that Mexican libraries have faced is a scarcity of librarians adequately prepared to perform cataloging and classification of their collections. This lack of librarians is even more acute in the Mexican states. There are insufficient numbers of students in library schools to provide the staffing that libraries demand not only for cataloging and classification but also for many other library activities.

How the Current Draft of RDA Addresses the Cataloging of Reproductions, Facsimiles, and Microforms

Abstract: The cataloging of microforms and other reproductions has been difficult throughout the history of cataloging codes, particularly due to the “multiple versions problem.” The proposed new cataloging code, Resource Description and Access (RDA), seeks to clarify the relationship between reproductions and originals by applying the principles of Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records ( FRBR ) to cataloging. While the use of FRBR principles does help to identify the relationships between works in the catalog, RDA as currently designed is challenging for the cataloger and includes many data that may prove to be difficult for catalog users to understand.

UALC Best Practices Metadata Guidelines: A Consortial Approach

Abstract: The Utah Academic Library Consortium Task Force, formed from two of Utah Academic Library Consortium's standing committees, Cataloging and Digitization, was established to improve metadata for new digital and special collections input by the Mountain West Digital Library's members (http://www.mwdl.org). This article describes issues relating to metadata policies developed for a library consortium consisting of university, college, and public libraries and museums and historical societies in Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. It will explore the need for best practices, current and ongoing challenges with metadata in general, and the considerations taken in developing guidelines entitled: Metadata Guidelines for the Mountain West Digital Library.

The Implementation of the Greek Union Catalog.

Abstract: This paper is based on the results of the study of the Work Group of Bibliographic Standards for the Greek union catalog, the first stage of Greek academic library union catalog development. The first section lists the objectives of the union catalog. The state of the art of Greek academic libraries is discussed in the second section. The lack of uniformity is identified as the main difficulty in setting up the union catalog. The next section addresses implementation models, and the fourth section describes two implementation phases (i.e., formation/homogeneity of the primary database and function/updating of the union catalog). Specifications required for the union catalog system are summarized in the fifth section, including records format, quality control of records, multiple records identification, and the data model. The sixth section considers standardization, including bibliographic standards, authorization of names and subjects, holdings information, and interlibrary loan. The importance of education and training of library staff is noted in the seventh section, followed by a section that discusses the administration scheme. The ninth section outlines project phases. A concluding section lists expected project results. (Contains 26 references.) 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THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GREEK UNION CATALOG Katsirikou, Anthi Technical University of Crete, University Campus, 73136 Chania, Greece )ap/anthi.html Introduction This presentation is based on the results of the study of the Work Group of Bibliographic standards for the Greek Union catalog. This is a project financed by the European Union which aims among others to the electronic networking of Greek Academic Libraries and to the establishment of infrastructure for the implementation of the Union catalog in Greece. The study which is the first stage of the Union catalog development, was entrusted by the Project Steering Board consisting of the representatives of all participating libraries. The study was introduced to the same Board and was passed. The work group decided that it was necessary to be advised by experts, so they had meetings with 3 persons, one from Europe and two from USA, who are experienced to the Union Catalogs setting up and implementation. 1. The objectives of the Union catalog The union catalog, at the early stage is the result of group efforts on cataloguing of many different organizations. At the following stage Union catalog provide users with the ability to perform consistent searching of records from multiple institutions in the sense that these records are indexed consistently. The goals of the union catalog are: Cataloguing most cost effectively, Increase the supply of quality records, both bibliographic and authority ones, Develop and maintain mutually acceptable standards, Increase the access and sharing of the bibliographic and authority databases of the participant libraries, Development of an interlibrary loan with real access to the collection material and document delivery system, Development of joint collections, printed and mainly, electronic ones, Links to document suppliers and electronic journals, Use of shared resources, Ongoing discussion, planning and programming among participant libraries, The production of the National Bibliography in electronic form. In a few words, the union catalog is a shared bibliographic database of all items in Greek libraries and their location, and it was to be a common network linking all libraries to one another, offering shared functions for interlending services, shared cataloguing and access to foreign databases. 2. The state of the art of Greek Academic Libraries The current state of Greek Academic Libraries shows some oddities which can be summed up in the 1 of 8 Lack of a coordinating body and cooperation mechanisms. So there aren't collective common decisions for the implementation of common accepted standards. National Library is not able up to the moment to undertake the substantial leading role in the Libraries community. Variety of automated systems. The automation of the libraries was accomplished relatively with great delay of these of European Union countries and was the result of individual efforts. As a 2 WU COPY AVAILABLE 10/28/99 1:47 PM Katsirikou Paper http://educate.lib.chalmers.se/IATUL/proceedcontents/pretpap/anthi.html consequence, the chosen library softwares have different potentials, use different MARC formats and supports either all or a part of an online system modules. Cataloguing rules. The general standard used for cataloguing is the Anglo American Cataloguing Rules". The level of the implementation and the rules interpretation doesn't appear any consistency, since it has not been agreed or dictated by a national decision making committee. . The use of standards related to bibliographic records is neither spread nor standardized. The Bibliographic records of non-greek material are purchased by foreign organizations. The cataloguing of greek material is accomplished individually by each library. Uniformity problems cause the main difficulty to the setting up the union calalog. These problems are listed below: The interpretation of cataloguing rules and the using sources, The level and the quality of cataloguing, The lack of standardization on holdings entries, The language of the field of notes for non-greek material, The use of names, corporate bodies and geographical terms. . Authority records: subjects and names Subjects The Academic libraries had to face the subject analysis of material without authoritative greek schedules. As a result we have the following formation: o Foreign language material: Language of subject Analysis: English: Source,Library of Congress Subject Headings. o Foreign language material: Language of subject Analysis: Greek: Source, National library and individual translation of the Library of Congress Subject Headings. o Greek language material: Language of subject Analysis: Greek: Source, National library and individual translation of the Library of Congress Subject Headings. o Greek language material: Language of subject Analysis: English: Source,Library of Congress Subject Headings. o Greek language material: Language of subject Analalysis: English and Greek: Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings, National library and individual translation of the Library of Congress Subject Headings. Names The name authority files of Library of Congress are used mainly for the authorization of foreign language names. For the greek names there is a variety of sources that are used, since the authority files of the National library are deficient and they can't be crossed with bibliographic records. o MARC Format. Two MARC formats are used: UNIMARC ?a? USMARC. Due to recent technological evolutions, this difficulty can be overleapt. o Collaborations and networks. Since early sixties the greek library community has seeked forms of collaboration and the creation of the ptinted union catalog. Due of the lack of coordinator and funds, these goals were never achieved. Nevertheless, the following evolutions are noticeable: 1. The union catalogue of periodicals which is established by the National Documentation Centre, is an official form of collaboration for the interlibrary loan. 2. A network of archaeological libraries is in progress. 3. Implementation models A Union catalog is presented to its users as a high-quality management information access system. This means that the system should meet standards for reasonably rapid and predictable response time, high availability and reliability, and good communication about outages; and the user should expect its behavior to be highly repeatable from session to session. There are two options of the organization of the catalog: the central and distributed one. The above referred situation of the Greek libraries persuades us to lean towards the central administration scheme because it offers: stable collection, basic, centrally managed tools for cataloguing, 3 2 of 8 10/28/99 1:47 PM Katsirikou Paper http://educate.lib.chalmers.se/IATUL/proceedcontents/pretpap/anthi.html possibilities for off-line pre-processing of records during loading of data, consistent index generation, . single search engine with dependable mapping of search keys to indexes, high level of repeatability, . central control of quality and performance. 1 Two basic models of implementation can be applied for the creation of a union catalogue: 1. Master Union Catalog. The participating institutions catalogue their material to the central database and then load to the local databases the new or modified records. 2. Slave Union Catalog. The participating institutions catalogue their material at first locally and then load the new or modified records to the central database. It is obvious that the appropriate model for Greek union catalogue is the Slave one, but the administrative system of the union catalogue could at the same time play the role of the master union catalogue in order to support smaller libraries without local automated systems. 4. Implementation phases In order to be achieved the functi