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MARC DISCUSSION PAPER NO. 2016-DP16

DATE: December 9, 2015
REVISED:

NAME: Extending the Encoding Level in the MARC 21 Authority Format

SOURCE: German National Library

SUMMARY: This paper proposes a way of extending Leader position 17 - Encoding level in the MARC Authority format.

KEYWORDS: Encoding level (AD), Leader/17 (AD)

RELATED:

STATUS/COMMENTS:
12/09/15 – Made available to the MARC community for discussion.

01/10/16 – Results of MARC Advisory Committee discussion:  The Committee was concerned with the GND specific character of the seven new levels of encoding. Field 042 (Authentication Code) was suggested as an alternative solution. A combination of one new code for encoding level pointing to 042 providing a flexible solution was brought to the discussion as well. The paper may return as another discussion paper.


Discussion Paper No. 2016-DP16: Extending the Encoding Level in the Authority Format

1. BACKGROUND

When four large authority files used in German speaking countries were merged into one "Integrated Authority File" ("Gemeinsame Normdatei" or "GND") in 2012, MARC 21 was chosen as the format for cataloging, with some additions and modifications, based on cataloging traditions in German speaking countries. On the level of the exchange format, librarians have encountered the use of several local fields and subfields. After three years of consolidation, these elements have been evaluated to determine their potential appeal as part of the MARC 21 communication standard. Based on the evaluation results, the German National Library presents a series of discussion papers.

2. DISCUSSION

In MARC Authority records of the GND each record has an encoding level, located on a scale between 1 and 7. Each of the different levels expresses both the completeness of a record and the rights and restrictions that apply based on the coordinated editorial concept of the GND.

The encoding level is catalogued in Pica3 field 005 position 3, and stored in Pica+ field 002@ subfield $0 position 3. Up to now the encoding level is communicated in MARC 21 in a "local" field 079 subfield $c, by appointment of all GND partners.

Information about the meaning of the codes from 1 to 7 is available online at:

https://wiki.dnb.de/download/attachments/50759357/005.pdf (PDF, 5 pages, 48 KB, in German language only).

Paraphrasing the German text, the seven levels carry the following meanings:

Level 1: "Full - editorial center, regional / specialist"
The record has been created or modified by editorial staff in a regional network center or specialist center. It contains all data elements needed to fulfil the standards. Field 1XX is formulated according to valid rules.

Level 2: "Full - editorial center, local"
The record has been created or modified by by editorial staff in a local institution. It contains all data elements needed to fulfil the standards. Field 1XX is formulated according to valid rules.

Level 3: "Full - professional"
The record has been created or modified by professional staff outside of an editorial center. It contains all data elements needed to fulfil the standards. Field 1XX is formulated according to valid rules.

Level 4: "Less than full - para-professional"
The record has been created or modified by para-professional staff outside of an editorial center. It contains data elements needed to fulfil the standards as far as feasible. Field 1XX is not always formulated according to valid rules.

Level 5: "Less than full - other"
The record has been created or modified by other staff. It contains some, but not all data elements needed to fulfil the standards. Field 1XX is not always formulated according to valid rules.

Level 6: "Legacy data"
The record has been taken over from a separate data base containing legacy data by a machine process. Some bibliographic information has been included. Field 1XX is not always formulated according to valid rules. Otherwise mandatory fields may be missing. Machine deduplication has partly been performed.

Level 7: "Converted"
The record has been created based on converted metadata. Field 1XX is not always formulated according to valid rules. Otherwise mandatory fields may be missing.

Up to now the encoding level is coded in Leader position 17 of the MARC Authority format:

17 - Encoding level

Whether the authority record is complete.

A record, where complete or incomplete, that is being considered for modification after its initial creation is identified by code b (Record is being updated) in field 008/31 (Record update in process).

n - Complete authority record
Record meets national-level record requirements for content and content designation.

o - Incomplete authority record
Authority record is incomplete because it does not yet contain all the information needed for a complete record. The record may or may not meet the national-level record requirements.

We propose seven new values for position 17 of the Leader:

a - Full - editorial center, regional / specialist
b - Full - editorial center, local
c - Full - professional
d - Less than full - para-professional
e - Less than full - other
f - Legacy data
g - Converted

3. EXAMPLES

Example 1: Encoding level a - Full - editorial center, regional / specialist:

LDR 00855nz  a2200301a  4500
001 1076599206
024 7# $ahttp://d-nb.info/gnd/1076599206$2uri
035 ## $a(DE-101)1076599206
035 ## $a(DE-588)1076599206
040 ## $aDE-12$9r:DE-384$bger$d8999$frswk
079 ## $ag$bs$c1$qs$vsaz
150 ## $aMaktab
450 ## $aMaktabeh
450 ## $aMaktabkhaneh
450 ## $aMakteb
450 ## $aMekteb
450 ## $aMektep
450 ## $aMeqteb
450 ## $aMaqtab
450 ## $aKuttab
550 ## $0(DE-101)04053474X$0(DE-588)4053474-1$aSchule$94:obge $wr$iOberbegriff generisch
550 ## $0(DE-101)040277437$0(DE-588)4027743-4$aIslam$94:rela $wr$iRelation allgemein
670 ## $aWikipedia (engl.)
679 ## $aislamische Grundschule

Example 2: Encoding level b - Full - editorial center, local:

LDR 00750nz  a2200229b  4500
001 107725542X
024 7# $ahttp://d-nb.info/gnd/107725542X$2uri
035 ## $a(DE-101)107725542X
035 ## $a(DE-588)107725542X
040 ## $aDE-611$9r:DE-611$bger$d0103$erda
079 ## $ag$bp$c2$qz$uk$vpiz
100 1# $aKornerup, Else$d1897-1973
375 ## $a2$2iso5218
550 ## $0(DE-101)042586976$0(DE-588)4258697-5$aAutorin$94:beru $wr$iBeruf
551 ## $aLaurbjerg$94:ortg$wr$iGeburtsort
551 ## $0(DE-101)95833949X$0(DE-588)4577892-9$aGentofte$94:orts $wr$iSterbeort
670 ## $aDänisches Wikipedia

Example 3: Encoding level c - Full - professional:

LDR 00635nz  a2200193c  4500
001 1077216858
024 7# $ahttp://d-nb.info/gnd/1077216858$2uri
035 ## $a(DE-101)1077216858
035 ## $a(DE-588)1077216858
040 ## $aDE-Kn3$9r:DE-1$bger$d5000$erda
079 ## $ag$bf$c3$qf$vvie
111 2# $aExhibition Mark Boulos$gVancouver B.C.
551 ## $0(DE-101)041193644$0(DE-588)4119364-7$aVancouver $gBritish Columbia$94:ortv$wr$iVeranstaltungsort
670 ## $aVorlage

Example 4: Encoding level d - Less than full - para-professional:

LDR 00617nz  a2200193d  4500
001 1076011470
024 7# $ahttp://d-nb.info/gnd/1076011470$2uri
035 ## $a(DE-101)1076011470
035 ## $a(DE-588)1076011470
040 ## $aDE-105$9r:DE-576$bger$d0105$erda
079 ## $ag$bb$c4$qf$vkiz
110 2# $aUK National Ecosystem Assessment
410 2# $aUK NEA$94:abku$wr$iAbkuerzung$eAbkuerzung
551 ## $0(DE-101)040093514$0(DE-588)4009351-7$aCambridge$94:orta $wr$iOrt
670 ## $aHomepage$uhttp://uknea.unep-wcmc.org/

Example 5: Encoding level e - Less than full - other:

LDR 00776nz  a2200193e  4500
001 1043940618
024 7# $ahttp://d-nb.info/gnd/1043940618$2uri
035 ## $a(DE-101)1043940618
035 ## $a(DE-588)1043940618
040 ## $aDE-547$9r:DE-601$bger$d0547
079 ## $ag$bu$c5$qf$vwim
100 1# $aAchron, Joseph$d1886-1943$tMusic for "Kiddush Hashem"
400 1# $aAchron, Joseph$d1886-1943$tIncidental music for "Kiddush Hashem"
500 1# $0(DE-101)12857660X$0(DE-588)12857660X$aAchron, Joseph $d1886-1943$94:kom1$wr$iKomponist1$eKomponist1

Example 6: Encoding level f - Legacy data:

LDR 00585nz  a2200217f  4500
001 1016330154
024 7# $ahttp://d-nb.info/gnd/7837181-8$2uri
035 ## $a(DE-101)1016330154
035 ## $a(DE-588)7837181-8
035 ## $z(DE-588c)7837181-8$9v:zg
040 ## $aDE-576$9r:DE-576$bger$d1501
079 ## $ag$bg$c6$qs$vgik
151 ## $aVor der Hart
451 ## $aRenningen-Vor der Hart
670 ## $aONDB
679 ## $aWohnplatz

Example 7: Encoding level g - Converted:

LDR 00374nz  a2200145g  4500
001 1077205503
024 7# $ahttp://d-nb.info/gnd/1077205503$2uri
035 ## $a(DE-101)1077205503
035 ## $a(DE-588)1077205503
040 ## $aDE-101$9r:DE-101$bger$d9999
079 ## $ag$bn$c7$qf$uv
100 1# $aBode, Mark

4. BIBFRAME DISCUSSION

Impact would be on MADS RDF, but no impact unless this practice is carrier forward.  It could necessitate additional properties in the administrative metadata area.

5. QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

5.1. Is the need of designating the encoding level clearly given?

5.2. Can the issue be solved by a format element already available in the MARC Authority format?

5.3. Can a format solution like the new values in Leader position 17 solve the issue?

5.4. Or is there another option for the information, such as a more flexible field?

5.5. Are there any potential problems that should be taken into account?


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