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Dear Glenn In <[log in to unmask]> you wrote via [log in to unmask]: > After Rebecca's message arrived yesterday, I did some searching in OCLC's > database to see to what extent existing records for publications in > Norwegian contain information that would allow the two new codes to be > applied to those existing records... Based on this sample, I'm not > optimistic about catalogers' ability to use the new codes accurately. Then the answer is simple. You may want to set an OCLC policy guideline to use only "nor" in selected fields. It may also be useful for you to contact technical services staff that you know who use OCLC systems and services in Norwegian libraries, and to ask them which codes they would prefer to use in MARC records. Haavard and Keld might also like to ask similar questions of their library contacts. There is a legitimate need for codes for Nynorsk and Bokmaal, (e.g. in Internet use, but in other situations too) but it may be that libraries (anywhere) might want to stick to only using a subset of ISO 639-2 codes, e.g. for backwards compatibility, and this subset might not use the separate codes for Nynorsk and Bokmaal. It may be that you would want to develop a policy guideline (via OCLC? via OCLC and RLIN? via the CDNL committee? via MARBI? via the IFLA committee on bibliographic standards?) on implementations of ISO 639-2 in a bibliographic context. This might for instance state that (after appropriate consultation) libraries would continue to use the code "nor" but would not generally use the separate codes for Nynorsk and Bokmaal. That would mean no alteration to the standard, or to changes agreed by the ISO 639 JAC. Any reactions? Does that solve the problems raised in the library world? I look forward to hearing from you Best regards John Clews -- John Clews, SESAME Computer Projects, 8 Avenue Rd, Harrogate, HG2 7PG tel: +44 1423 888 432; fax: + 44 1423 889061; Email: [log in to unmask] Committee Chair of ISO/TC46/SC2: Conversion of Written Languages; Committee Member of ISO/IEC/JTC1/SC22/WG20: Internationalization; Committee Member of CEN/TC304: Information and Communications Technologies: European Localization Requirements Committee Member of TS/1: Terminology (UK national member body of ISO/TC37: Terminology) Committee Member of the Foundation for Endangered Languages; Committee Member of ISO/IEC/JTC1/SC2: Coded Character Sets