Dear MODS list,
The MODS/MADS Editorial Committee is working through a long list of change proposals for the 3.4 and 4.0 versions of MODS. The 3.4 release will include minor changes, and the 4.0 release will include more major changes that prevent backwards compatibility with the 3.x versions. We'll be posting to this list and to the MODS web site specific change proposals as they are approved for inclusion. The Committee meets via conference call biweekly, and we expect that approving the queued changes for 3.4 will take a few more calls. Here is a summary of recent developments:
Change for 3.4 approved on April 8, 2009:
- Add type="reviewOf" and type="references" to <relatedItem>. The committee recognized the need and opportunity to fundamentally change how relationship types are designated in MODS 4.0, but felt in the meantime 3.4 would benefit from the introduction of these two relationship types that have been specifically requested by MODS implementers.
Change considered and rejected on April 8, 2009:
- Add a <languageOfWork> element to <titleInfo>. Uniform titles constructed according to AACR2 sometimes have a language term as part of the constructed title, which was the impetus for this change request. However, Uniform Titles have many other parts that are also not available within MODS <titleInfo>. The committee believed that a change like this one as proposed would best be done as part of an overall well-planned and potentially major change to MODS to fully support AACR2 Uniform Titles and their presumed replacement in RDA Work and Expression core elements.
The MODS/MADS Editorial Committee will hold our next conference call on Wednesday April 20, and will be reviewing more change proposals at that time. Please post to the MODS list if you have a feature you'd like to see in 3.4 or a future revision, or if you have any comments on the changes to be discussed on the next call by the Editorial Committee.
Changes to be discussed on April 20, 2009:
* Enumerate the MODS version attribute
* Add value "family" to type attribute under <name>
* Support RDA "Content Type" element
* Expand use of qualifier attributes
* Add usage attribute to more MODS elements
We look forward to hearing your feedback,
Jenn Riley
Chair, MODS/MADS Editorial Committee
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Jenn Riley
Metadata Librarian
Digital Library Program
Indiana University - Bloomington
Wells Library W501
(812) 856-5759
www.dlib.indiana.edu
Inquiring Librarian blog: www.inquiringlibrarian.blogspot.com
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