Technological: Built under the technological constraints of a different time

Technological: Built under the technological constraints of a different time

• Technological: Built under the technological constraints of a different time

• Data storage was very, very expensive
• Data was stored on tapes that had to be read sequentially

• Functional: Built for a different purpose

• Designed to print cards not for computerized searching or to supply machine-actionable data

Tools to work with MARC

• Tools to work with MARC

• MARCXML

• Arcane numbering, labeling scheme

• Crosswalk to labels?
• Still have to understand meaning and context
• However, the procrustean limits of field numbers and tags limits the flexibility and expandability of MARC

A couple examples in the context of RDA’s aims

• A couple examples in the context of RDA’s aims

• RDA data elements
• FRBR and relationships

Intended to be atomistic and independent of storage and display

• Intended to be atomistic and independent of storage and display

• Many have controlled vocabulary lists

• Intended to be used by humans and computers

• Machine-actionable data is ultimately for the good of people

Example from OLAC experiment:

• Example from OLAC experiment:

• Can we teach a computer to identify widescreen and full screen videos?

Full screen

• Full screen

• Fullscreen

• Full-frame

• Standard format

• Widescreen

• Wide screen

• Letterboxed

250 Edition statement

• 250 Edition statement

• 538 System requirements note

• 500 Physical description note

• 505 Contents note (when disc has both versions)

• 440/830 Series (widescreen)

• Where the computer stumbles:

• 500 General note: Special features … widescreen to fullscreen comparison

300 $a 1 computer optical disc : $b sd., col. ; $c 4 3/4 in.

• 300 $a 1 computer optical disc : $b sd., col. ; $c 4 3/4 in.

• 300 $a 1 CD-ROM : $b sound, color ; $c 12 cm

Transcribed information

• Transcribed information

• IMDb example: Laurence Fishburne (as Larry Fishburne)

• Stuff that can’t be controlled data, such as summaries and contents note

• Explanatory notes for controlled data

• Stuff that doesn’t quite fit: square pegs, penguins, and ostriches

Not easy to represent in a machine-actionable way

• Not easy to represent in a machine-actionable way

$w in 7xx linking fields is for the control number of the related record

• $w in 7xx linking fields is for the control number of the related record

• $0 in controlled fields

• 100 $a Bach, Johann Sebastian. $4 aut
• $0 (DE-101c)310008891
• Isn’t clear how it would work if you want to control two elements in one field

• Yet another discussion paper at MARBI on Works and Expression in MARC

Humpty Dumpty problem:

• Humpty Dumpty problem:

• common with musical recordings, but happens with videos, other materials, too.

• $8 linking subfield

• not widely implemented or used

511 Cyrus Stevens, violin (1st work) ; Pamela Dellal, mezzo-soprano (2nd work)…

• 511 Cyrus Stevens, violin (1st work) ; Pamela Dellal, mezzo-soprano (2nd work)…

• 518 The 1st and 3rd works recorded at the Sonic Temple, Roslindale, MA, Dec. 5 and 14, 2001, respectively…

• 505 Sonata for violin and piano (17:54) -- A packet for Susan (19:59)…

• 650 Sonatas (Violin and piano)

• 650 Songs (High voice) with piano…

• 700 Boykan, Martin. Sonatas, violin, piano.

• 700 Boykan, Martin. Packet for Susan…

Why do we want atomistic, machine-actionable data and machine-interpretable relationships?

• Why do we want atomistic, machine-actionable data and machine-interpretable relationships?

• OLAC prototype as a possibility

Challenges for development

• Challenges for development

• With what $?

• Who?

Jason Thomale’s “Interpreting MARC: Where’s the Bibliographic Data?”

• Jason Thomale’s “Interpreting MARC: Where’s the Bibliographic Data?”

• http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/3832

• OLAC’s experiment with extracting data from MARC:

• Code4Lib Journal: http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/775

• OLAC report:

• http://www.olacinc.org/drupal/capc_files/archived_docs/MIW_4.pdf

• (task force web page: http://www.olacinc.org/drupal/?q=node/27)

• MARBI discussion papers

• Controlled Lists of Terms for Carrier Attributes:

• http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2011/2011-dp04.html

• Identifying Work, Expression, and Manifestation records:

• http://www.loc.gov/marc/marbi/2011/2011-dp03.html

• OLAC prototype discovery interface:

• http://blazing-sunset-24.heroku.com/