Preserving compatibility with standard data formats

Abstract

Librarians in countries without well‐established national bibliographic systems increasingly find themselves faced with the problem of establishing local formats for machine‐readable cataloguing and for referral data. Often they lack the background and the resources — especially trained staff — either to adopt an existing MARC format or to develop their own. Such international formats as UNIMARC and CCF (Common Communication Format), despite widespread international use, present problems of their own: MARC formats are not practical for agencies that do not follow standard cataloguing rules, and CCF offers little guidance to agencies wishing to adapt it for local use. A number of techniques useful in adapting and implementing international and national standard formats are presented, with some guidelines for preserving compatibility with standards.

Citation

Simmons, P. (1994), "Preserving compatibility with standard data formats", Program: electronic library and information systems, Vol. 28 No. 2, pp. 125-140. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb047165