MARC AND THE USE OF LINEAR SEPARABLE CONNECTORS

By John Adoga Ikwe,(ikweman@yahoo.com)

Cataloguing Division, Kashim Ibrahim
Library, Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria,
Nigeria

I have coined the phrase “linear separable connectors” to denote the concept and
application of computers to bibliographic description. Traditionally, the card catalogue
provides information that describes a library collection bibliographically. The rules for
description, as we know, are based on the general framework for the description of library
materials (the general International Standard Bibliographic Description (ISBD)G)1

In the online environment, bibliographic record structure is presented differently.

Thurston highlighted the role of MARC format as it organizes information in a way that
allows the online catalogue to store and display electronic data which describes the
resources in our collection2

Catalogers who do not operate online make use of “areas” in the organization of a
description. “Elements to be included in the descriptive part of the catalogue entry are
divided into areas (where an area is a major section of the item being catalogued)”3

Conversely in the online environment, codes are employed to label data elements .The
codes are tagged “Fields” and most fields have corresponding “subfields”. A subfield
contains data elements that provide further details to those in their correspondent fields.
Thus MARC allows specificity which by its nature presents record-data through linear
separable connection

They are separable in the sense that they are dissociated leaving any field within the
record structure to retain a logical and comprehensive unit of information capable of been
transferred between systems. It is simply for this reason that all fields and subfields are
preceded by a delimiter (also called a separator).This is unlike the traditional system
whereby an area carries a more wholesome chunk of information which cannot stand
comprehensively without the support of those from other areas. They are linear because
they maintain a single line dimension. Where a line within a record is replicated, the
coded tag bearing the line is not introduced more than once.

And in any one record, they are expected to be multiple coded fields and each one is a
sequence of the other. The connection between one line and the other is in terms of the
flow of information-content maintained by the data elements within the fields. These are
however enhanced by the use indicators that are defined by external rules and standards
such as AACR2, LCSH, MSH, CSH, etc

As a graduating student of the department of Library and Information science, Ahmadu

Bello University, Zaria in 2006, I had little interest with the operations of Machine
Readable Cataloging. My interests were however fired upon securing appointment with
the University Library where I had access to a lot of reading materials dealing with the
subject matter. This was however accelerated by the actions of professor Zakari
Mohammed (current Librarian,Oct.2008) and professor Doris Bozimo (immediate past
Liberian).Having interests in the area of integrated library operations they initiated and
followed the path to a complete automation of the Kashim Ibrahim Library system.
Several softwares for the management of the collections were introduced .MARC became
the requirement for the use of one of these. Subsequently MARC gained a popular usage
amongst many staff within the library complex . I read and slept with the concept of
MARC for months .I coined the title “MARC AND THE USE OF SEPARABLE LINEAR
CONNECTORS” and began to build on it .I toyed with the word CONJECTORS before
settling down for CONNECTORS at the end of the title. I developed the body with a
laborious tenacity devoid of mirth because I thought I didn’t know where I was heading
to. Towards the end of it I stumbled on Vickory upon which I picked much courage to
enable me tread the path of my writing. He had the muse with him and it wasn’t a mere
glean when long ago, he observed that “ machine readable record is a linear string of
characters that is linearly scanned”4

An OCLC document cited below presents a succinct example of the variation in the
presentation of record both in the online environment and the print equivalence.

The Print format will present the information stated below in the physical description
area of the card catalogue.

18p.; ill.; 27cm-(Education around the world)(DHEW publication : no.(OE) 74-

19109)

Using MARC format this will be separated into several constituents (fields)

300 - - 18p.: ± b ill.; ± c 27cm

440 - 0 Education around the world
490 -1 DHEW publication; v no.( OE) 74-19109)5

The 0XX fields contain the controlled information-number codes. If any of these codes
that relate to part of the record displayed above are included in it then you have gotten a
complete MARC record with the usual three components comprising of an enhanced
record structure, an elegant content designation with formidable data content.6 The
brevity of any record is dependent on the encoding level and the available information for
the description of a particular material. In this regard, one needs to appreciate the effort of
the pioneers of MARC apparatus for projecting 999 fields as a theoretical possibility.

USEFULNESS OF MARC

Far back as the early 1960s, Machine Readable Cataloguing (MARC) was seen to be a
realistic proposal for the automation of the library system.7 Some of the usefulness of
MARC as envisioned by the Library of Congress then and those unearthed by other
participating agencies over the years are listed below.

-MARC is widely used by libraries and other information agencies to exchange

bibliographic and related information between systems.

-The organization of data within fields and subfields make room for specificity
which facilitate manipulation and retrieval of information within machines.

-It is a solution for storing massive amount of electronic data in a compact format
i.e. it is a standardized structure for the storage and presentation of bibliographic
information8

-Widespread use of MARC standards has helped libraries to acquire predictable

and reliable cataloguing data, make use of commercially available library
automation systems, share bibliographic resources, avoid duplication of effort and
ensure that bibliographic data will be compatible when one automation system is
replaced with another9

REFERENCES

1. ISBD(G) : General International Standard Bibliographic : Annotated text

prepared by the Working group on the General Bibliographic Description set
up by IFLA committee on Cataloguing.
2. Thurston, Patricia(2008),A brief introduction to cataloguing using a Machine
Readable (MARC21) format. A paper presented on VTLS cataloguing
Training held at Kashim Ibrahim Library, Ahmadu Bello University,Zaria,11th-
13th June.
3. Maxwell, Robert L. (2004). Maxwell’s handbook for AACR2 : explaining and
illustrating the Anglo-American Cataloguing through the 2003 updates
,Chicago:ALA.,p.2
4. Vickory, B.C. (1973). Information systems, London: Butterworths, p.66
5. http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/en/4xx/default.shtm.
6. Furrie, Betty ( 2003). Understanding MARC Bibliographic : machine readable
cataloging/prepared by Network Development and MARC standards office,
Library of Congress,7th ed.
7. Foskett, A.C.(1996).The subject approach to information,5th
ed.,London:London Library Association.
8. MARC 101 for non-catalogers, Colorado Horizon Users group Meeting,
Philip S. Miller Library,Castle Rock,Co,May 29,2007.
9. http://coekate.murraystate.edu/professors/koren