Topic Areas
The ways in which metadata can be encoded for computer-readability are explored, specifically MARC and XML schemas.
Learning Objectives
- Identify why we code records for machine processing.
- Describe how we code records for processing.
- Apply key encoding standards that are used in libraries.
Guiding Questions
- Why and how do we code records for machine manipulation?
- Why is encoding standardized?
- Will BIBFRAME, XML, or some other encoding system replace MARC in library catalogs?
- What's wrong with MARC?
Required Readings
Joudrey, The Organization of Information, Chapter 5; review Appendices C & D
Library of Congress, "Bibliographic Framework as a Web of Data"
And please read at least one of the following:
Recommended Readings & Websites to Explore
- Encoded Archival Description (EAD), http://www.loc.gov/ead
- Furrie, "Understanding MARC," http://www.loc.gov/marc/umb/
- Joudrey, "A Very Brief Review of the MARC 21 Bibliographic Format," http://web.simmons.edu/~joudrey/marc/
- Joudrey et al., Introduction to Cataloging & Classification, Chapters 21 & 22
- Library of Congress, "Bibliographic Framework Initiative,"https://www.loc.gov/bibframe/
- Morgan, XML in Libraries Workshop, http://infomotions.com/musings/xml-in-libraries/
- OCLC, "Bibliographic Formats and Standards,"http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/
- Text Encoding Initiative, https://www.tei-c.org/
- Zeng, Metadata, Chapter 5
Relevant Articles from The Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science
- Aliprand, "Unicode Standard"
- Avram, "Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC): 1961–1974 [ELIS Classic]"
- Clarke, "Extensible Markup Language (XML)"
- McCallum, "Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC): 1975–2007"
- Pitti and Rush, "Encoded Archival Description (EAD)"
- Salminen, "Markup Languages"
- Wusteman, "Document Type Definition (DTD)"