I'm preparing training for staff on the changes that OCLC is implementing in Connexion 1.6. With Connexion release 1.6, we now have available a number of new characters in Basic Latin and Extended Latin. LC's document "Usage of 'New' MARC 21 Characters in MARC-8 Records" at http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/newchar2.pdf indicates that LC will be revising LCRIs 1.0E and 1.4F5 and DCM Z1 670 once these characters are able to be used in LC records and in authority records. It would appear that OCLC now permits the use of most of these characters, although Technical Bulletin 252 states that use of some of the extended Latin characters is "subject to revision of Library of Congress Rule Interpretation 1.0E where appropriate." The Technical Bulletin also notes that PCC participants should follow PCC practices for the extended Latin characters. I understand that for records which are being shared between PCC members and LC and which are redistributed by CDS (i.e. NACO, SACO, and CONSER records) that it's imperative to wait until LC is ready to accept these new characters. My question has to do with BIBCO records that are not currently being or going to be distributed by CDS (this would exclude future BIBCO records for integrating resources): can we start using these new characters in these BIBCO records? Are there technical or policy reasons why the new characters could not start being used immediately in BIBCO records created outside LC? If we have to hold off on using all of these new characters until LC revises and posts its documentation, can someone at LC give us an idea of when that may be expected? Thank you, Adam ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Adam L. Schiff Principal Cataloger University of Washington Libraries Box 352900 Seattle, WA 98195-2900 (206) 543-8409 (206) 685-8782 fax [log in to unmask] http://faculty.washington.edu/~aschiff ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~