Dear Colleagues
There has been some debate in PCC circles recently about the extent to
which the British Library Record conforms to the PCC Core Record
Standard. The following is intended to set the record straight.
1. The British Library does not currently contribute to BIBCO and does
not assign level 4 encoding to its bibliographic records.
2. The British Library Record was based on the PCC Core Record
standard, but was developed to satisfy our own requirement for an
corporate standard. As such, it has been the standard for Records
contributed to the British National Bibliography since 1st January
1996. Records created prior to that date or for other purposes cannot
be guaranteed to conform to the British Libarary Record standard.
3. The British Library controls access points in accordance with the
Anglo-American Authority File. In practice, this means that the
majority of authority records associated with headings in British
Library Records are derived from the British Library Name Authority
List (BLNAL), not the USNAF. As coverage of the AAAF is extended the
proportion of headings which conform with USNAF will be increased. It
is planned to begin the retrospective alignment of BLNAL with USNAF
from year 2000.
4. For technical reasons the British Library is unable to provide
series authorities. Therefore records which contain series statements
cannot by definition be considered to comply with PCC Core.
5. The British Library uses UKMARC, not USMARC.
6. The British Library intends to make a formal application for BIBCO
membership, with effect from April 1999. It will take responsibility
for ensuring that records which contain the PCC Core Record Flag do
conform with the standard.
Alan Danskin
Corporate Bibliographic Database Controller The British Library
Boston Spa
Wetherby
West Yorkshire
United Kingdom
LS23 7BQ
[log in to unmask]
tel. +44 1937 546669
fax. +44 1937 546979
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