Future considerations: the functional library systems record
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830410524594 |
| Pages | 166-174 |
| Date | 01 June 2004 |
| Published date | 01 June 2004 |
| Author | Karen Coyle |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Future considerations:
the functional library
systems record
Karen Coyle
The library card catalog performed a suite of
functions with a single technology: the card.
Today's library automation systems have
integrated a much larger number of functions into
a single system. These include the functions of
discovery and location that were performed by the
card catalog, but expanded to other library
management functions like acquisitions, serials
control, and circulation. The library system is also
being asked to expand beyond these functions. It
needs to provide interaction with outside user
services such as full text, to enhance catalog
entries with images and sound, and to allow users
to search a variety of local and remote databases
with a single search.
When we contemplate how our bibliographic
record should be structured in the future, and
what data elements it should contain, we need to
look at more than just the MARC record but also
the context in which it is used, which is the library
system. Changing the MARC record without
taking this holistic system view would be a grave
mistake. It would also be a mistake to assume that
the library system of today is a finite and fixed
context; instead, our systems are in a constant
state of evolution, as are all computer systems, and
they are part of a larger context of networked
information resources.
At the same time that those of us in the library
systems area are contemplating our next record
structure, catalogers in our profession are looking
at the bibliographic record from a conceptual and
functional point of view. The bibliographic view of
what is functional and the systems view of
functional are not currently being discussed in
concert. Bringing these two reform movements
together would be a better formula for success
than either of them would have on its own. This
article proposes one way to think about these two
changes and how they might work together.
AACR: MARC ...
The MARC record was created as a digital mirror
image of the cataloging rules of its time, which
were not so different from the cataloging rules of
our time. Those cataloging rules were originally
designed to produce cards for library catalogs, and
they still reflect that heritage with their main entry
headings, inverted forms of names, and the
grouping of data elements into paragraph-like
segments.
The author
Karen Coyle is Digital Libraries Consultant, Berkeley, California,
USA.
Keywords
Online cataloguing, Libraries, Object-oriented databases, Design
Abstract
The paper performs a thought experiment on the concept of a
record based on the
Functional Requirements for Bibliographic
Records
and library system functions, and concludes that if we
want to develop a functional bibliographic record we need to do
it within the context of a flexible, functional library systems
record structure. The article suggests a new way to look at the
library systems record that would allow libraries to move
forward in terms of technology but also in terms of serving
library users.
Electronic access
The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available
at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
Received 31 August 2003
Revised 23 October 2003
Accepted 7 November 2003
166
Library Hi Tech
Volume 22 .Number 2 .2004 .pp. 166-174
#Emerald Group Publishing Limited .ISSN 0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378830410524594
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