Stephen et al, There was an interesting article by Roy Tennant a while back in Library Journal that outlined the latest recasting of the bibliographic record in terms of hierarchical dimensions very similar to the Koha database. Here's the rundown: +In 1998, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions +(IFLA) published a report on the Functional Requirements of Bibliographic +Records (FRBR)?a revolutionary recasting of the bibliographic record on behalf +of library users. It defined such principles as the hierarchical dimensions of +a creative product: work (distinct creation), expression (realization of a +work), manifestation (physical embodiment), and item (a single exemplar). The +revolutionary aspect is best understood as it is being applied by OCLC and RLG +to their catalogs. When a user searches for a book in a catalog, they are faced +with the variations of that work as multiple, separate records. Which one to +choose? With FRBR, all manifestations can be collapsed into one virtual record, +with methods for users to narrow in on the items (e.g., language, form, etc.). +Draft screen designs for RLG's new system are compelling evidence of the +benefit of "FRBRizing." One screenshot shows a list of search results. Under the title and author of an item is the notation "19 editions +published between 1916?2001 in 5 languages." The full record for that item +provides a way for the user to see only editions in a specific language or the +two audio versions. If the link survives my paste attempt you can read the whole article at: http://libraryjournal.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA2891 90&display=Digital+LibrariesNews&industry=Digital+Libraries&industryid=3760&ver ticalid=151&publication=libraryjournal if not, just do a search on google for "not your mother's union catalog". Cheers, Joshua On Fri, Sep 26, 2003 at 11:42:03AM +1200, Chris Cormack wrote:
But I think the form has been designed in a way so that it looks like we'd need 3 biblios for the above example .. which is not right.
That's where you have things wrong my friend. Beyond the MARC stuff, which I know is not your responsibility or interest, whatever library advice you are getting is WRONG.
*** Three different items do require three different records. ***
Ahh, see this is where I think people confuse internal storage with external representations.
You have three different physical manifestations of a work, which, if we are still using AACR2R rules -- which are the standard for the anglophone library world ascribed to and endorsed by your National Library as well as those of the Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United State -- the RULES require three different records.
The biblio level that you all wisely created acts like an authority record, pulling together different manifestations of a work, because, God only knows what the patron might actually want. But you have to remember that that's all it should do then.
As a pure matter of what is correct, 3 different types of item (book, DVD, large print book) require 3 different records, which would have slightly different data and different MARC coding. If you want to keep the biblio level, then work should begin on making that into the core of the AUTHORITIES for the system (used forms, cross-references, see also's etc.).
If I can export records in a format like that, and display them to the librarian in a format like that. And input them from a format like that.
What does it matter how they are internally stored??
What I was talking about is how Koha stores the data .. I think if its possible to create valid catalog records that correspond with standards, then how we store the data internally doesnt matter. Apart from the obvious storing it in a way that provides for fast access. And minimal redundancy.
Perhaps I didnt make that clear enough in my message :) I was talking about the internal structure.
Chris
-- Chris Cormack Programmer 027 4500 789 Katipo Communications Ltd chris@katipo.co.nz www.katipo.co.nz _______________________________________________ Koha mailing list Koha@lists.katipo.co.nz http://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha