At 10:04 AM 10/2/2001 -0400, you wrote:
>Karen:
>
>In the original version of this document, I tried to insert something about
>Z39.71 display, and got shot down. I'm not adverse to attempting something
>about displays, but perhaps we'd get further on that if it were a separate
>but associated document? Care to take a stab at it?

We always seem to be loathe to get down to the display level in our
standards, and for good reason -- people want to be able to modify displays
in their own system. I don't think that we need to define HOW the display
will look, but we do need to define displays at a level of functionality.
We could use the ANSI serials holdings standards as defined levels (not
display formats). The other possibility is to use the 852 field as our
model, which is what we're doing for MELVYL. Following the 852, we
determined that the level of display of holdings has to be enough for the
user to go to the shelf. What's key here is that the "actor" in this
definition is not a system or a piece of software but a human being (what a
concept!). The 852 is sufficient for books; we'd possibly need to add the
866 to cover serials. But I think that a well-functioning system does need
to produce the data elements that are useful for a library patron. If it
can't, then I have to question our mission.

In standards terms: must be able to create the Z39.71 level 3 data elements
OR the elements needed to fill in an 852 field (with an 866 for serials)
with enough information for a user to go to the item's shelf location.

Display of these data elements is up to the system.




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Karen Coyle                    [log in to unmask]
   University of California Digital Library
   http://www.kcoyle.net        510/987-0567
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