Re: arsclist Cataloging

["Jeanette Berard" <JBERARD@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>>> stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 12/13/02 02:15PM >>>
One further question: both MARC and RDI are (I assume) proprietary
databases.....<<

Apples and oranges.  MARC is a formatting system, RDI is a database.

MARC is non proprietary.  It is a data coding system that is
independent of any software or hardware system.  MARC stands for Machine
Readable Cataloging, and was developed by the Library of Congress back
in the 1960's. 

The two main union catalogs (aka bibliographic utilities) that contain
MARC records in the US are RLIN and OCLC.  Both of these allow access
only to their members.

Records in MARC format could be output into dbf, ascii, or a number of
other formats.  To gain the right to download these records you'd either
have to join either RLIN or OCLC directly, or be associated with a
library that was a member.

When members search and download from either RLIN or OCLC it costs them
money.  Adding records gets them monetary credits.

So, exporting - easy!  Finding someone to do it for you - priceless...

Happy Friday,
Jeanette
(Maverick MARC cataloger)

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