Updated FAQ for BIBCO standard record for printed books made available

The November 24 announcement about Implementation of the BIBCO Standard Record (BSR) for printed books brought many questions not covered in the original FAQ. An updated FAQ was issued on December 18 to address these questions. The answers reflect the collaborative efforts of the BSR Task Group, PCC leadership, chairs of the Standing Committees, OCLC, and the BIBCO Coordinator. The updated FAQ is available at: http://www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/bibco/BSR_FAQ.pdf. Thanks to George Prager for this information.

WorldCat Basic API Now Available

A new API called WorldCat Basic is being offered as a very simple interface into WorldCat. Envisioned as a mashable access point for lightweight apps, WorldCat Basic API is available to anyone and everyone for noncommercial use.

from OCLC Abstracts
December 21, 2009

Library Automation

Pace, Andrew. “21st Century Library Systems.” Journal of Library Administration 49(6) (August 2009), at: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a915763651
Provides a brief, non-technical review of the history of the library automation system, current environment, and some thoughts on future developments.

An Alternative to RDA

For those dreading RDA, there is a cooperative project online that offers an RDA alternative. 

The Cooperative Cataloging Rules project is a cooperative site originally created as an alternative to accepting RDA by James Weinheimer, Director of Library and Information Services at The American University of Rome, Italy. His basic idea is to have a site where the current cataloging rules can continue to be updated. See http://sites.google.com/site/opencatalogingrules/cataloging-ru for a list of all the rules.

The Cooperative Cataloging Rules project includes a Google Group, a Wiki and a Blog. 

Check out the Cooperative Cataloging Rules Group at:
http://groups.google.com/group/open-cataloging-rules?pli=1

Check out the Cooperative Cataloging Rules wiki at: 
http://sites.google.com/site/opencatalogingrules/
Here you can find out how to get involved!

For more information, check out the blog at: http://coopcatwiki.blogspot.com/
Here you can see the Official Announcement and check out the discussions. 

(site mentioned on Autocat)

NISO December 2009 Newsletter

The NISO December newsletter is now posted at: http://www.niso.org/publications/newsline/2009/newslinedec09.html

Here are a few highlights:

• As part of NISO's 70th Anniversary, NISO has been publishing a series in Information Standards Quarterly (ISQ) of NISO milestones since the organization's inception as the Z39 committee in 1939. NISO has posted the timelines openly on the NISO website. It's a fascinating trip through the past of library and information standards development. In addition, the Fall issue of ISQ, due out this month, completes the anniversary series with a feature article on future trends and issues impacting NISO. 
• With an eye toward the future, NISO has begun work on a review of electronic resource management (ERM) issues as a follow-up to the original DLF ERMI work. The original initiative led to standards work on usage statistics (SUSHI), cost data interoperability (CORE) and license expression (ONIX-PL) as well as many projects outside of NISO. In the coming months, we expect the ERM gap analysis to be completed and identify priorities for further work in this area into the new decade.  
• Finally, NISO has announced its 2010 educational program schedule. 

(NISO website)

GPO/MARCIVE Cataloging Distribution Pilot Project

The United States Government Printing Office has contracted with MARCIVE, Inc. for a Cataloging Record Distribution Pilot Project in which a selection of Federal depository libraries will be chosen to participate. For this pilot, GPO bibliographic records will be distributed from GPO's Integrated Library System (ILS) to participating libraries.   This pilot will serve as a test of the record distribution process. This test will help determine if the catalog records meet the needs of FDLP libraries and are compatible with libraries' workflows.

GPO will evaluate the success of the delivery mechanism pilot and report back to the FDLP community on outcomes and next steps. GPO will take lessons learned from this pilot to look at a long-term solution for bibliographic record distribution. 

To learn more about the Cataloging Record Distribution Pilot Project, read the frequently asked questions here: <http://www.fdlp.gov/home/tutorials/cataloging-record-distribution-pilot>.

View detailed information on how to complete the Pilot Profile here: <http://www.fdlp.gov/home/repository/doc_download/1110-pilot-profile-form-guide-for-the-cataloging-and-distribution-pilot>.

Complete the Pilot Profile Application form <http://www.fdlp.gov/component/form/?form_id=39> to become a participating library in the Cataloging Record Distribution Pilot Project. All applications for participation must be submitted no later than January 11, 2010. Selected libraries will be notified in February, 2010.

At 1:30 p.m. EST on Tuesday, December 8, 2009, Laurie Hall, GPO's Director of Library Technical Information Services, and Joan Chapa from MARCIVE, Inc. will discuss the new pilot project and answer your questions with their "Chat with GPO" OPAL session on the Cataloging Record Distribution Pilot Project.  The session will be held in the GPO OPAL room, which you can get to from the FDLP Desktop. Just click on Outreach, then on Online Learning, and then on "Click here to enter the GPO OPAL room." 

It is recommended that participants of this chat view the Cataloging Record Distribution Pilot Project Web page on the FDLP Desktop prior to this session, which can be found at <http://www.fdlp.gov/component/content/article/16-cataloging/579-crd-pilot>.

The program will be archived on the GPO OPAL site, so you will have convenient access at all times. In order to participate in the live session, please follow the instructions below. No prior RSVP is required for participation.   

CONNECTING TO THE OPAL SITE:  

* To bring up the GPO OPAL room, go to: <http://www.conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rs38bb0e4b3a5a> 

* If this is your first use of OPAL, install the plugin by following the directions in the box labeled "First time participants." Once you have installed the plugin, you can then go back to the above URL (the same window you had open) and click in the box to enter the room.   

* You may use any name that you choose to log in to the conference room.

* No password is required for this session.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE?
To participate in the event, you will need to be connected to the Internet, access an Internet browser, and have speakers turned on to listen to the audio presentations. A microphone connected to (or embedded in) your PC allows you to speak to the other participants. If you don't have a microphone, you will be able to text comments and questions.
_________________________________  

If you have questions or comments, please use the askGPO help service at: <http://www.gpoaccess.gov/help>.  When submitting a question, please choose the category "Federal Depository Libraries" and the appropriate subcategory, if any, in order to ensure that your question is routed to the correct area. 

(AUTOCAT)

OCLC publishes 42nd annual report to the membership

OCLC's 42nd annual report to the membership has just been issued and is available at: http://www.oclc.org/news/publications/annualreports/2009/2009.pdf?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=OCLC+Abstracts&utm_campaign=OCLC+Abstracts.

"In the report, Jay Jordan, OCLC President and Chief Executive Officer, wrote that fiscal 2009 was a challenging year as libraries and the OCLC cooperative felt the impact of the worldwide economic recession. At the same time, the cooperative continued to execute its long-term strategy of building Web-scale services, setting the stage for an exciting transformation in the way libraries serve their institutions and users."

From: OCLC Abstracts, Vol. 12, no. 47 (Dec. 7, 2009).

Beacher Wiggins announces delayed implementation of the BIBCO Standard Record guidelines at LC

Beacher Wiggins made the following announcement on the BIBCO and PCC mailing lists today:
LC will not be ready to implement the BIBCO Standard Record guidelines
on January 4, 2010, when PCC participants will begin following those
guidelines.

A delayed implementation at LC is necessary so there will be time
(1) to consider the following:
a. the inclusion of additional elements in records created by
LC's cataloging staff (as proposed by Policy & Standards Division in
April);
b. the use of code "pcc" in the 042 field for "in process"
items;
c. the impact on vendor-provided records;
d. whether Validator (an internal check application) checks are
necessary;
e. whether OCLC's algorithms to preserve series access points
when merged with LC's need to be adjusted;
f. impact on non-Acquisitions & Bibliographic Access cataloging
operations at LC;

(2) to make the appropriate changes to the following:
a. Voyager templates;
b. preprocessing software for vendor-provided records, if
necessary;
c. ECIP software;
d. EPCN software;
e. any additional software maintained by ABA's
automation specialist;
f. documentation to reflect the change in practice (LCRI's have
been/are in the process of being adjusted to reflect the new PCC series
policy). There are also numerous DCMs that would need to be adjusted
(B13, B16, C1, D8, E1, E2, M7-- not an exhaustive list), and perhaps
workflow documentation as well.

CDS will issue a subscriber notice to announce that LC will begin coding
records PCC again. (These are usually 60 or 90 days ahead.)

Just announced on the RDA list!

RDA: Resource Description and Access will be published in June 2010. While we regret this delay in release of RDA, the transition from publication of AACR2 as a printed manual to release of RDA as a web based toolkit is a complex process with many interdependencies.
The updated text of RDA incorporates recommendations from constituencies and other stakeholders approved at the JSC meeting earlier this year. The revised text has been successfully loaded into the RDA database. The product is currently undergoing thorough quality review and testing in preparation for release.

We recognize that customers and prospective users of RDA need reliable and timely information for planning and budgeting. We are confident that this revised deadline is a realistic target for publication of RDA.



Pricing and purchasing information will be introduced at the time of the ALA Midwinter Meeting, 15-18 January 2010.



Mary Ghikas, Chair Committee of Principals
Alan Danskin, Chair Joint Steering Committee for Development of RDA
Don Chatham, Chair Co-publishers

ALCTS draft report on romanization -- comments due

The ALCTS non-english access working group draft report on romanization

is up on the web and available for comment. The working group was charged with examining the current use of romanized data in bibliographic and authority records, and make recommendations for best practices.

The conclusion seems to be that we are not quite ready to move away from providing romanized data in access points, but that we should rely on automatic translation whenever possible.

Comments are due by Tuesday, Dec. 8.

From Catalogablog

ISBD Area O published

Area O of the ISBD has now been published on the web. Area 0: Content Form and Media Type Area is an amendment to the International Standard Bibliographic Description (ISBD). Area O will take the place of the general material designation (GMD) in area 1. It is being issued with a set of examples and will be incorporated into the consolidated ISBD for its next revision in 2010.

From Catalogablog

Google Scholar Chief Engineer on Law Librarian podcast

Google Scholar's chief engineer, Anurag Acharya, will be the featured guest for the Dec. 4th installment of Richard Leiter's The Law Librarian podcast.

From Just in Case

Free provider neutral webinars

OCLC will be holding two Webinars on the topic of Provider Neutral E-Books to be presented by Robert Bremer, OCLC Senior Consulting Database Specialist. Robert served on the PCC task group that formulated the provider neutral policy. He will describe how a provider neutral record differs from previous cataloging practices for eBooks, and will also discuss OCLC’s plans for conversion and consolidation of existing eBook records in WorldCat.

You can access the Provider-Neutral E-Monograph MARC Record Guide at:
http://www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/bibco/PN-Guide.pdf
The two free webinars will be held on Thursday, December 10 at 1:30 PM EST and on Tuesday, December 15 at 11:00 AM EST. Each will last no more than 1 hour.

Registration is available at the following links:

Dec. 10:
https://www3.oclc.org/app/request/bin/request.asp?specialCode=Neutral10Dec09

Dec. 15:
https://www3.oclc.org/app/request/bin/request.asp?specialCode=Neutral15Dec09

The sessions will also be recorded and available on the web after December 15.

Info from Cynthia Whitacre on the OCLC Cataloging e-list