[XML4Lib] MARC format

[Eric Lease Morgan]

On Sep 16, 2008, at 8:02 AM, <Deborah.SCOTT-DOUGLAS at oecd.org> <Deborah.SCOTT-DOUGLAS at oecd.org 
 > wrote:

> We would like to convert our publications records to MARC format for  
> a new version of our research product which is used principally by  
> university/research and government libraries.   It would be our  
> strong preference to create them in xml version.   The question  
> which has been raised is whether we can anticipate that libraries  
> commonly have the ability to accept data in xml.  Is this a fair  
> assumption?  Would there be a convincing argument for supporting  
> both formats?
>
> -- 
> Deborah Scott-Douglas
> Librarian/Documentalist
> Public Affairs & Communications Directorate
> (PAC/PM)
> Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
> 2, rue Andé Pascal
> 75775 Paris Cedex 16
> France
>
> Phone : 01 45 24 99 29
> Email :  Deborah.Scott-Douglas at oecd.org


If the data you plan on making available is the same sort of data that  
is routinely placed into library catalog applications, then the "best"  
format for the data is MARC in communication's format. You know, those  
log ugly things designed in the mid-1960's. (Unfortunately), that is  
the format most used by the library community.

On the other hand, many but not most, libraries have the necessary  
personnel to convert MARC communications format into MARCXML and then  
into other XML formats. These same libraries understand the value of  
XML versus MARC. Moreover, if your data were provided in some form of  
XML to begin with, then you might find audiences in addition to  
libraries for your content.

In short, the choice between MARC and some version of XML is almost  
split. If I were in your shoes and I had to make a choice, then I  
would choose some version of XML. But of course, this is a mailing  
list about XML in libraries.  8-)

-- 
Eric Lease Morgan
University of Notre Dame