As a librarian my suggestion would be to combine all subject headings into one field and allow some sort of check against the authority file (ie. do you want to accept it or not if it does not match an existing subject heading). This would allow the librarian to reject sears headings if you use LC etc. Alternatively allow something in set up that allows you to decide at the start if you will accept only the fields which contain sears headings or only the fields that contain LC headings and ignore the others. I know nothing about programming so I don't know how easy this is to do - or if it fits in with what you are trying to do Tonnesen Steve <tonnesen@cmsd.bc.ca>@lists.katipo.co.nz on 13/12/2000 07:19:19 Sent by: koha-admin@lists.katipo.co.nz To: Koha Open Source Library System <koha@lists.katipo.co.nz> cc: Fax to: Subject: [Koha] MARC Records MARC records have an astonishing amount of detail, both in terms of data about the book, as well as ways in which the data can be described. I'm wondering how I should handle the first difficulty: subject headings. MARC records have several different entries for subjects: 650 Subject added entry -- Topical term Subjects like Mammals, Nuclear Warfare, Law, Alcohol, Child Welfare, etc. Appears to be the most common type of subject entry, at least with my data. 651 Subject added entry -- Geographic name Subjects like Canada, Rome, Moon, China, British Columbia, etc. 600 Subject added entry -- Personal name Subjects like Plato, Helen Keller, Charlemagne, etc. In addition each subject entry also specifies a source "system" such as Library of Congress Subject Headings or Sears Subject Headings. Obviously Koha doesn't have this complexity of subject headings, and probably doesn't need it, but I'm suspecting that we probably don't want to mix subject headings from different cataloging systems. Any possibility of adding a field to bibliosubject to specify a subject heading system used? Also, should I be adding any subject headings gathered from MARC records to the catalogueentry table (which I assume is used to deter librarians from adding new, conflicting subject headings like "Cows" and "Bovines"). I also have a request. Could people send me some samples of their MARC records so I can do some sanity checking? A lot of my MARC records are not from "formal" sources, but were hand entered by the librarian here. I'm also curious to know how librarians typically use commercial CDs of MARC records. Do they import all of the records into their library system at once, or just import records for books they hold? How are the MARC records typically stored on a CD? Is it just one big file full of MARC records? Steve. _______________________________________________ Koha mailing list Koha@lists.katipo.co.nz http://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha =========================================== This email message has been swept by MIMESweeper for The Wesley Group of Hospitals- Australia Although this email has been scanned for any known virus, please ensure that due care is taken and correct virus management procedures are maintained. If you have any questions contact the Help Desk on x7029 or via email at help@wesley.com.au ===========================================
On Wed, 13 Dec 2000 kaye.guidetti@wesley.com.au wrote:
As a librarian my suggestion would be to combine all subject headings into one field and allow some sort of check against the authority file (ie. do you want to accept it or not if it does not match an existing subject heading). This would allow the librarian to reject sears headings if you use LC etc.
For this to work, we'd need a source for the subject headings of the various authorities in an electronic format. Anyone know if these are freely available somewhere?
Alternatively allow something in set up that allows you to decide at the start if you will accept only the fields which contain sears headings or only the fields that contain LC headings and ignore the others. I know nothing about programming so I don't know how easy this is to do - or if it fits in with what you are trying to do
This makes more sense to me. If the MARC records are also stored in the database, you could even switch at some point between sears and LC headings by reloading the desired subject headings from the MARC records (assuming that the MARC records contained both, that is). Another alternative I can see is to add a field to the bibliosubject table that lists the authority for the heading. You could have a preference set that you wanted to only use the sears headings for your library system, but the other subject headings would also be there. Rosalie, you mentioned "trimming" the MARC records in the past. Just out of curiousity, what part of the records do you trim, and why? Steve.
Hi Steve
Rosalie, you mentioned "trimming" the MARC records in the past. Just out of curiousity, what part of the records do you trim, and why?
I remember things like "A Large Print Book" appearing as a field, which is superfluous, because our item type tells us it's a large print book. And subject headings such as "Swine - Juvenile Literature" for The Three Little Pigs. And incredibly detailed descriptions of the type and number of illustrations, and the names (authority controlled!) of additional authors, translators, editors et al. My lack of tolerance for extraneous information was probably shaped by the years with a 386 server with 200Mb of hard disk - and no upgrade in view. It did make us focus on the essentials. We use maybe 30 fields maximum to describe any item in our library to the level of detail required by my community. MARC records have 999 - so there is lots of room for trimming. Cataloguers have a passion for accuracy. This Public librarian has a passion for getting the books in front of the people as fast as possible. Given that more than 90% of my users choose by browsing rather than by searching the catalogue, I don't think time and money spent on overdetailed cataloguing records is justified. "Quick and dirty" is not an insult in my library. Rosalie _____________________________________________
Koha mailing list Koha@lists.katipo.co.nz http://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha
participants (3)
-
kaye.guidettiļ¼ wesley.com.au -
Rosalie Blake -
Tonnesen Steve