Meeting Minutes (October 1, 1999)
Clemons Library, University of Virginia
Present: Althea Aschmann (VPI), Karen Cary (VCU), Elaine Day (JMU), Nadine P. Ellero (UVa), Billie Hackney (ODU), Trish Kearns (W&M), Charles Lewis (JSRCC), Elizabeth G. McClenney (VSU), Allison M. Sleeman (UVa)
Guest: Barbara Anderson (VCU), Luciana Wlassics (UVa)
July Minutes were unanimously approved (http://catherine.med.virginia.edu/vivacat/jul99min.htm).
Elizabeth G. McClenney suggested and the group agreed to provide web access to all retrospective minutes of the original task force and the Cataloging and Intellectual Access Committee, together with current minutes of the newly created task force. Karen Cary has the minutes from July 1996 up to the second last meeting and she will be emailing them to Nadine Ellero for conversion to the Web page. Back to Topics
The charge was accepted with one minor addition:
The VIVA Task Force on Cataloging and Intellectual Access enhances intellectual access to VIVA electronic resources, maintains guidelines for MARC cataloging, shares bibliographic records, explores emerging bibliographic and metadata standards, and promotes new technologies for digital resource organization. Back to Topics
MARC Perl Module (http://libstaff.lib.odu.edu/depts/systems/iii/scripts/MARCpm/) <link broken, 4/7/2008, TM>
Charles McFadden (W&M), Ed Summers (ODU), and Charles Bearden (Rice University) continue to develop the MARC Perl Module, based on McFadden's script to translate MARC transmission format to a readable format. Using the web interface (http://libstaff.lib.odu.edu/cgi-bin/marc.cgi <link broken, 4/7/2008/, TM>), one can translate a "raw" MARC file to ASCII format, MARCMakr format, labeled HTML (author, title, subject, URL), XML, output for a URL checker, or ISBD display format. With additional scripting, libraries can use the module to customize output fields and labels. MARCMakr output allows for manipulation of the file with the Library of Congress MARCMakr program. The edited file can then be translated back into MARC using the MARC Perl Module. Summers has offered to demonstrate MARC.PM at a future VIVACat meeting. McFadden and Summers have also started the listserv for Perl progammers in libraries (Perl4lib). Back to Topics
Draft VIVACat Home Page (http://library.jmu.edu/libstaff/ts/er/vivacat/vivacat.htm)
Everyone liked the page. A suggestion was made to hot link all member's names with email addresses. The questions of who will maintain what documents, whether to have the Serials Curriculum added, and should we archive documents on the VIVA server arose. It was agreed that we should and will archive documents on the VIVA server. Documents will be replaced with upated versions; facilitating less confusion as to the most current one available. Training will still remain one of our accomplisments. Back to topics
Chadwyck-Healey: Barbara Anderson suggested and the group agreed to create a linked page for the Chadwyck-Healey project, including files, pertinent e-mails, and instructions for downloading the bibliographic and authority records. The following problems have been recently encountered with the Chadwyck-Healey records:
- VCU reported name authority problems with a small number of 700 fields, which were not accounted for in the initial authority work. We will update the file of bibliographic records to correct these headings and download or establish OCLC name authorities as needed.
- JMU decided not to import the MARC authority records, as they would duplicate a high percentage of authorities already in their system. The records downloaded by VCU, UVa, JMU, PVCC, and W&M will be available to any VIVA library that wants to load them in one or several batches.
- Hard to get usage statistics on the use of the Chadwyck-Healey databases (e.g. American Poetry) or use from catalog links.
The following has been resolved:
- UVa with the assistance of Virginia Tech will create the NACO records for 100 and 700 fields that could not be validated in the OCLC NAF.
- Elaine Day, with assistance from Ed Summers will create the Chadwyck-Healey information page to link to the VIVACat homepage.
- Elaine Day will contact Chadwyck-Healey and OCLC regarding the addition of these records to WorldCat.
- Ed Summers, and others, including Jackie Shieh, who did the original work in upgrading the MARC files received from Chadwyck-Healey, will draft an article on this project.
LCATS Article: Karen Cary and Joyce Ogburn have had an article about VIVACat accepted in LCATS (Library Collections, Acquisitions and Technical Services): "Developing a consortial approach to Cataloging and Intellectual Access." Cary will let us know whether it is possible to provide a link to an electronic version from the task force home page.
The Guidelines: The group responsible for revising the VIVA Guidelines on Cataloging and Intellectual Access (A. Aschmann, K. Cary, E. Day) will consider minor revisions in emphasis and presentation this Fall. Substantive revisions will have to wait until rule changes are announced by the Joint Steering Committee for AACR, CONSER, and other authorities. Aschmann, who was not one of the original authors, agreed to review and comment on the document.
The group agreed that metadata initiatives should be addressed by the task force, including:
1. Educating ourselves and sharing information with other VIVA catalogers.2. Possibly applying metadata to description of VIVA electronic collections.
However, the cataloging guidelines will continue to address only AACR/MARC practice.
OCLC CORC: UVa and JMU are participating in the OCLC CORC project, which currently permits cataloging in MARC or Dublin Core, and creation of HTML pathfinders based on data contributed in cataloging. Back to Topics
Listserv Update:Allison Sleeman reported that she was not aware of any user restrictions. Some discussion followed and it was agreed that we do not need to be concerned about restricting access at this point in time. Back to Topics
Next Meeting: The next meeting will be held November 5th, at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, directions to be announced on VIVACAT-L. The backup location will be VCU.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:50 AM. Back to Topics
Submitted by Nadine P. Ellero
October 8, 1999; revised October 28, 1999