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 hopefully just *one* more call. Here is a summary of recent developments:
Changes for 3.4 approved on July 28, 2009:
* Enumerate the MODS version attribute to include all earlier incremental version within the main version number.
* Slightly revised an earlier approved change. The new attribute "shareable", with a single value "no," will be available only on the tableOfContents and abstract elements.
Changes for 3.4 approved on August 11, 2009:
* Add the value "family" to type attribute under <name>
* Add temper date format as an option on date elements
Changes discussed on August 11, 2009 but rejected or deferred:
* Expand genre type attribute documentation (work to incorporate the Aquifer guidelines into MODS user guidelines will likely fix this)
* Expand defnition of coordinates to better fit RDA equinox and epoch elements (dealing with this properly requires a non-backwards compatible change so will wait for MODS 4.0; map these RDA elements to coordinates for now)
On our next call we will be discussing support for specific data elements related to theses, whether to expand places the usage attribute is available, supporting external linking within a record, linking to external sources via URI, expanding the availability of xlink attributes, and allowing extension within MODS top-level 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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