No, in trying to keep MODS lightweight, we did not include language of cataloging as an element in MODS. We could add it to RecordInfo if deemed important. Rebecca On Thu, 7 Nov 2002, Dinberg Donna wrote: > Karen wrote: > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Karen Coyle [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > > Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 10:13 AM > > Subject: Re: language attributes for MODS element. was (RE: > > [MODS] MODS revisions) > > > <snip> > > > Yes, we should distinguish between the language of the item > > being described > > and the language of the cataloging. So when a librarian in > > China describes > > a book published in England, the book is cataloged using > > Chinese, although > > the book itself is in English. As more metadata crosses national and > > language boundaries, this will be an important piece of > > information about > > the metadata itself. > > Language of cataloguing has often been included since the beginning of MARC > coding in Canada to distinguish English-language from French-language > catalogue records. For bilingual works especially, there are frequently two > catalogue records created ... one in English and one in French ... for the > same item. The language of publication of the item may or may not have some > bearing on what language of cataloguing is used; that is a matter of local > cataloguing policy. > > Info about language of cataloguing is described in MARC 040$b. I do not see > 040$b in the MARC-to-MODS October 2 map > <http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/mods-mapping.html>, only 040$a. If > the language of the original catalogue record is important, especially in > the international context Karen described, then MARC subfield 040$b should > be mapped. (If prior discussion has covered this, I apologize for stating > the obvious. I have come late to the MODS party.) > > Donna Dinberg > Systems Librarian/Analyst > Government Online Task Force > National Library of Canada > Ottawa, ON K1A 0N4 > Voice: 613-995-9227 > E-mail: [log in to unmask] > > <Opinions above are mine, not necessarily those of my employer.> >