CONFERENCE REPORTS
Jan Mayo, Column Editor
** REPORTS FROM THE **
2005 ALA Annual Conference
Chicago, Illinois
Machine-Readable Bibliographic Information Committee (MARBI)
Liaison Report
submitted by John Attig
Pennsylvania State University
The Machine-Readable Bibliographic Information (MARBI) Committee and the USMARC Advisory Committee met for two sessions during the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois. The following is a summary of the meeting. More information is available on the MARC Advisory Committee Web page at <http://www.loc.gov/marc/marcadvz.html>.
Proposal No. 2005-04R: Hierarchical Geographic Names
At previous meetings, MARBI had decided that the format should support the use of hierarchical place names as both place of publication and as subject, and that a new field (662) should be defined for the latter. This revised proposal dealt with the subfield codes that should be defined for fields 662 and 752.
MARBI approved the proposal with some additional clarification of subfield usage. Specifically, it was decided that other applicable subfield codes could be used for levels under the name of an extraterrestrial entity ($g).
Proposal No. 2005-06: Addition of Subfields for Relator Terms/Codes for Subject Access to Images
In response to a Discussion Paper at Midwinter 2005, MARBI had decided that a distinction should be made between terms identifying the subject of an image and terms identifying what is depicted in the image. MARBI also decided that the proper technique for making this distinction should be the use of a relator term ($e) and/or code ($4). The current proposal called for adding these two subfields to all relevant 6XX fields. MARBI approved the proposal.
Proposal No. 2005-07: Revision of Subfield $b in Field 041, Language
This proposal, sponsored by OLAC, called for removing a coding instruction in subfield $b (Language code of summary or abstract/overprinted title or subtitle) that called for recording a language code only if it was different from that of the soundtrack. The proposal also suggested deleting the term "overprinted title" from the definition, and clarifying that language of both captions and subtitles are covered in subfield $b.
MARBI approved the proposal. In addition, it was suggested that the use of the same subfield for both language of a summary/abstract and for language of subtitles/captions was a problem, and OLAC was asked to investigate this issue.
Proposal No. 2005-08: Changes to Accommodate IAML Coded Data in Fields 008/18-19, 047 and 048
This proposal dealt with the Form of musical composition code (008/18-19 and field 047) and the Number of Musical Instruments or Voices Code (field 048). Currently only codes defined in the MARC 21 formats are allowed in these fields. This proposal called for changes to the definitions that would allow codes from other sources (such as the new IAML [=International Association of Music Libraries] code list) to be used, and for the addition of $2 to fields 047 and 048 in order to identify the source of the code.
MARBI approved the principle that non-MARC codes should be allowed in these fields, and approved the proposal to add subfield $2 to field 048. In the case of field 047, however, it was suggested that the IAML codes could in fact be treated as MARC codes; MLA was asked to reconsider the proposal for field 047.
Other Business
Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records: MARBI discussed a report on possible record configuration scenarios for representing the FRBR work–expression–manifestation–item relationships using MARC authority, bibliographic, and holdings records. The report focused on the communications environment and took as a premise that records exchanged should be independent, able to stand on their own in any system. One particular suggestion was that subject headings--which are related to the work --might be included in authority records representing works. This sort of thing needs to be tested. There was a request that any institutions doing FRBR experimentation share their plans and results with the MARC community through the MARC discussion list.
Unicode implementation: MARBI discussed a report describing some implementation decisions relating to Unicode. These dealt with such issues as normalization for data matching and sorting sequences. No decisions were made, and further discussion will need to take place. LC has established an electronic discussion list for MARC/Unicode issues; to join, go to: <http://listserv.loc.gov/listarch/unicode-marc.html>.
Committee on Cataloging: Description and Access (CC:DA)
Liaison Report
submitted by Greta de Groat
Stanford University Libraries
Resource Description and Access (RDA)
After much, generally negative, commentary on the Draft of Part 1 of AACR3, the JSC withdrew the draft and decided on a change of direction. The new version has been rechristened, Resource Description and Access (RDA). Editor Tom Delsey is hard at work on the revision, but has sent CC:DA both a draft table of contents and a draft sources of information section. Instead of the current arrangement by ISBD area, the draft table of contents is arranged by broad functional areas aligned with FRBR user tasks. Instructions on using ISBD punctuation will be in an appendix as a display standard, along with OPAC displays. However, it is envisioned that RDA records will be compatible with AACR2 records. Though many rules will remain the same or similar to AACR2 rules, there will still be an emphasis on generalization and simplification. LC has sent a detailed proposal for a simplification in recording publication and an even more simplified proposal for sources of information. The formerly tight timeline on the revision process has been moved up, with the completion and review of the revised draft of Part 1 now expected to take place between October 2005 and April 2006. Part 2 will not be completed until May 2006, and publication is not expected until 2008.
CC:DA Actions and Discussions
RDA was the primary topic discussed at CC:DA at this Conference, along with other information on the JSC meeting last April, more discussion on incorporating the responses to the AACR3 Part 1 Draft into RDA, and some preliminary discussion on simplifying some special rules for headings in AACR2R, Ch. 21. It was reported that, despite the restrictions, over two hundred people reviewed the draft, and the JSC's willingness to listen to the criticism and to change course was appreciated. Jennifer Bowen, JSC representative, reported on the RDA to the Heads of Technical Services of Large Libraries Discussion Group (aka "Big Heads") at ALA, and they urged the JSC to go forward regardless of the impact on OPACs. Jennifer also predicted that she would be spending more time in the coming year doing outreach to various ALA constituencies, possibly scheduling a regular time at ALA conferences for information sessions on RDA. Further information on RDA can be found on the JSC Website at: <http://www.collectionscanada.ca/jsc/rda.html>.
There was general consensus that LC's proposals for simplification were a step in the right direction. There were some concerns, however, that situations such as multiple publishers or places of publication were not addressed. Some of these issues, however, are apparently going to be addressed in the guidelines to various levels of cataloging.
Other CC:DA activities included reports on:
"FRBR in 21st Century Catalogues: An Invitational Workshop". Power Points for presentations from this workshop are available at <http://www.oclc.org/research/events/frbr-workshop/program.htm> including Allyson Carlyle's presentation which includes non-book materials. GMD/SMD Working Group, "Task Force on Rules for Technical Description of Digital Media".
Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA)
Cataloging Committee
Liaison Report
submitted by Nancy Dosch
National Library of Medicine
AMIA's next Annual Conference will be held in Austin, Texas from November 30 to December 3, 2005. In addition to the many workshops, sessions, and committee meetings, a highlight of the Conference will be the Third Annual Restoration Screening of the recently discovered and restored Beyond the Rocks (1922), starring Gloria Swanson and Rudolf Valentino. Martin Scorsese calls the discovery of the film among a collection donated to the Netherlands Filmmuseum "a cause for celebration... a testament to the extraordinary artistry of the silent cinema". For information on the Conference, refer to the Website: <http://www.amiaconference.com/>.
The Cataloging Committee is energized by the prospect of hearing Kris Kiesling's overview of Describing Archives: A Content Standard, its development, and how it can be used in conjunction with EAD/MARC and other descriptive schemas and standards. His presentation will be at the Cataloging Committee's first session (on Thursday, December 1) of the Conference. Kris Kiesling is Associate Director for Technical and Digital Services at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas, Austin.
The Cataloging Committee is also co-sponsoring a program about the MIC (Moving Image Collections) mapping utility, which has broken new ground by enabling any moving image archive, regardless of metadata schema used, to share records globally through the MIC Union Catalog. The organization simply submits an application, sample records and a field list. MIC then fills in an online form with this data so that the organization can name MIC data element equivalents for its own fields.
As mentioned in past reports to OLAC, members of the Cataloging Committee continue to contribute to the ongoing development of the MIC: Moving Image Collections Website, which is now live at <http://mic.loc.gov/>. We strongly encourage everyone to take a look, review it, and let us know what you think. Comments and questions are most welcome and desired, and they should be sent to <mic@loc.gov>.
MIC is built on a portal structure to customize information for its diverse audiences. Select " Choose a portal" to find resources for general users, archivists, and science educators. The MIC Union Catalog and MIC Archive Directory can be searched from any portal by clicking the "Collections Explore" or "Archive Explore" links on the MIC taskbar.
The OLAC community should be especially interested in MIC's "Cataloging & Metadata Portal" which contains information about the MIC Union Catalog, Standards & Tools, Systems & Utilities, and Training opportunities. For more information, please visit the Website at: <http://mic.imtc.gatech.edu/catalogers_portal/cat_index.htm>.
Entries for the MIC Archive Directory continue to be welcome. Whether an institution is a moving image repository, or simply holds a few film titles as part of a larger general collection, it is invited to be registered with MIC. By doing so, it will join a ground-breaking initiative to provide access to moving images worldwide and to contribute to further collaboration, research, and mentoring in the archival moving image community. Any institution holding archival moving image materials is eligible for a Directory entry. "Archival materials" are defined as those intended to be retained so that they may be available for future generations, regardless of their age at the time of acquisition. To register and participate, visit the MIC site at <http://mic.loc.gov/> and click on "List your archive".
The test version of the new "MIC Service Providers Directory" has been launched. This Directory will list individuals and organizations that supply professional services and products for archival moving image collections. Individuals or organizations providing professional services and products to the archival moving image field can help us test the Directory by filling out the form at <http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=629631044473>. The MIC Service Providers Directory is open to consultants (in appraisal, preservation, management, library science, etc.), professional associations (such as OLAC!), funding agencies, labs, and service providers in the areas of digital data storage and migration, environmental monitoring, etc. The Directory will also list companies that sell, rent, service and repair archival moving image equipment and supplies.
For more information about AMIA's Annual Conference, Cataloging Committee projects, or general questions relating to AMIA, please feel free to contact me by e-mail <doschn@mail.nlm.nih.gov> and/or visit the AMIA Website <http://www.amianet.org/>. For more information about MIC, please contact the Project Manager, Jane Johnson <jjohnson@loc.gov > and/or visit the MIC Website <http://mic.loc.gov/>.
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Last updated: November 11, 2005
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