MARBI Proposal 97-3R "proposes the redefinition of Leader/06 code m
(Computer file) to specific kinds of electronic resources, including
computer software, alphanumeric data, games, computer-oriented
multimedia, online systems and services, etc." It could be described as
an instance of misleading labelling.
This proposal really redefines code "a" more than "m" -- and that is not
welcome. If this proposal is implemented as written, where will the
USMARC record carry the information that the material described by the
record is ordinary eye-readable print matter? Anti-discrimination (?)
is one thing, failure to distinguish intrinsic difference is another.
Isn't it time to admit that this area of USMARC needs thorough
reconstruction? The progress of the harmonization process might seem to
suggest otherwise, but I keep thinking of sayings such as "throwing good
money after bad" (or "throwing the baby out with the bathwater").
Perhaps cataloguing really needed MARC revision before AACR revision?
The fundamental concepts of the MARC structure may still be valid, but
it would be surprising if, after a generation, there were no need for a
thorough overhaul. Continuous revision is all very well, but it can end
up missing the wood for the trees.
Hal Cain, Joint Theological Library, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
<[log in to unmask]>
J. McRee Elrod wrote:
>
> The new interpretation of the code "m" for machine file as not applying
> to print matter in machine readable form (now to be "a") leaves us in a
> quandary. The function the code served for us (ff 31 on Catss) was that
> it created a code in the hitlist so that one could distinguish the
> record for the CD-ROM from he one for the print version. Now that
> function will be lost. There is no plan to change records
> retrospectively. If a code is not uniformly applied, what use is it?
>
> We have also heard that the Catss code ff 68 for accompanying materials
> (which we used for print media with non book, disk with book, etc.) is
> also to be no more with harmonization of the various MARCs.
>
> Whatever utility some fixed fields had is rapidly vanishing.
>
> Mac
>
> __ __ J. McRee (Mac) Elrod ([log in to unmask])
> {__ | / Special Libraries Cataloguing HTTP://www.slc.bc.ca/
> ___} |__ \__________________________________________________________
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