arsclist MARC cataloging

["phirsch" <phirsch@xxxxxxxx>]

Steve Smolian writes:

<Library vs private.
<
<It is my understanding that some fields in the MARC cataloging system are
<not searchable, which means the desired data is there but not
independently
<searchable.
<
<We might begin with what info libraries want and what collectors want.  A
<list of fields (non-MARC) from each group might be a useful start.
<
<The argument about cataloging not being discographic holds no water with
me-
<the computer can accommodate it.  Why leave important stuff out?
<
<Steve
<
<----- Original Message -----
<From: "David Seubert" <seubert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx     >
<Sent: Friday, December 13, 2002 1:06 PM
<Subject: Re: arsclist Cataloging
<
<
<> Steve's points are interesting, but private individuals don't need to
buy
<> their cataloging from OCLC. All of these utilities (and most library
<> catalogs) can export catalog records in a variety of formats. This is
how
<> researchers compile bibliographies and one could do the same for an LP
or
<> CD collection. This doesn't address if library cataloging meets the
needs
<> of an individual collector, but if you just want to make a list of what
<> you've got, it will certainly suffice.
<>
<> A library catalog is not a discography and isn't the definitive source
of
<> information about a disc, and shouldn't pretend to be. Our catalog tells
<> our patrons what we have and describes the recording in enough detail to
<> distinguish it from similar items. Collectors want discographies and
<> libraries need catalogs and these will always need to be structured
<> differently.
<>
<> This would be an interesting subject for the conference.
<>
<> David
<> David Seubert, Curator
<> Performing Arts Collection
<> Davidson Library Special Collections
<> University of California
<> Santa Barbara, CA  93106
<> (805) 893-5444 Fax (805) 893-5749
<> mailto:seubert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<> http://www.library.ucsb.edu/speccoll/pa/
<>

I'll try to clarify this, if possible;

I don't believe that there is anything inherently unsearchable about any
MARC field, it is only a format for assigning particular a type of
information to a specific field numbered from 001-999, a manifestation of
meta-data. It is the catalog that the MARC record is loaded into that
determines what is and isn't searchable. In addition, an institution may
choose to display only selected fields of the record in its catalog. For an
example that combines both field-specific searching and keyword searching
take a look at the NY Public Library's Research Division's online catalog
<catnyp.nypl.org>. This has recently been enhanced in the area of keyword
searching. The search help information does not detail which fields are
actually searched, but they include most of the notes field that contain
contents notes and were previously out of reach of searchers even though
they were visible portions of the bibliographic record.

If you still are not sure what a MARC-tagged record looks like, you could
take a peek at the AllMusic Guide, mentioned in passing earlier
<allmusic.com>. There some of the popular music (at least I can't find this
feature in the allclassical.com area) album entries have a "Library view"
that you can click on and reveal the record in MARC format (a rather
rudimentary level record, but MARC tagged nevertheless). I had a bit of
difficulty locating this feature myself, but it is there.

Regards,

Peter Hirsch


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