MARC Distribution Services Registration/Order Form

Library of Congress
Cataloging Distribution Service
Customer Services Section
Washington, DC 20541-4912 USA

(800) 255-3666 (Toll-free US only) or (202) 707-6100
Fax: (202) 707-1334
Telex: TWX 710 822-0185 ANSWER-BACK LIBCON USA
Email: cdsinfo@loc.gov
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EST), Monday-Friday, except holidays

MARC Distribution Service Ordering Instructions

To order a MARC Distribution Service, complete this FTP Registration/Order form. See attached listing of the MARC Distribution Services that CDS currently offers. Indicate which service(s) you desire in the box labelled Service(s) Desired.

The Registration/Order form asks for information about your host computer. All the information requested is required. If you have previously registered for MDS via Internet FTP and all information concerning the host computer is the same, please designate your customer number and host Internet address.

Technical notices and further communications will be emailed to all contact person(s) designated on the Registration Form above.

Background Information

Internet FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a method of transferring files directly from one computer to another using the Internet network.

CDS currently offers a "Pick-Up" service for customers to retrieve files by directly accessing the files on the CDS Server.

What are the benefits of Internet FTP?

Customers will have MDS files resident on their own computer shortly after the file is created in CDS.

Customers avoid tape handling and mail delivery.

What are the requirements for using Internet FTP?

1. You must have access to the Internet.
   
2. You must have sufficient disk space to receive the MDS file from CDS.
3. You must have an assigned Server logon ID and password.
   

Initial Set Up:

• The customer completes the CDS FTP Registration / Order Form and sends or e-mails it to the address at the top of the form.
• CDS contacts the customer to test the FTP transfer. CDS provides FTP instructions with an Internet address, user ID, and password.
• During the test, CDS makes available via FTP transfer a copy of an MDS subscription issue for those existing tape subscribers a comparison of the tape and FTP files can be made. MDS tape service stop when a customer begins Internet FTP for the same product.
• When the customer advises CDS that the test has completed successfully, a mutually agreeable date to begin the Internet FTP service is set.

Routine Operation:
• CDS mounts each subscription file on the CDS computer shortly after the file is created.
• The customer views or queries the online list of CDS files available for FTP (those for which payment has been made).
• The customer executes the FTP retrieval of the files.
• If the transfer fails, or if the file is somehow corrupted during processing, the customer may retrieve a replacement copy of the file from CDS. MDS issues are returned on the CDS server for up to 90 days.

Retrieval Instructions:

• Connect to the CDS mainframe. Connection will close if idle for more than 5 minutes. All commands should be in lowercase.
• Follow the prompted logon procedure using assigned Logon ID and Password. Type "?" or "help" at any time to display a list of commands. Note: Some commands are restricted.
• Change to desired product directoryEx. cd /emds/books/eng
  Note: /emds is the default signon directory.
• Change to binary mode
  Ex. bin
  List the files on the product directory
  Ex. dir
• Retrieve the appropriate 'label' file
  Ex. get v23i01.label
• Retrieve the appropriate 'records' file
  Ex. get d010123.records
• Change to text or ASCII mode
  Ex. ascii
• Retrieve the appropriate 'report' file
  Ex. get v25.i01.report
• Retrieve a 'notice' file, if available
  Ex. get v25.i01.notice
• Exit the system
  Ex. bye

Available Files

All currently available MDS files (i.e., test, retrospective, subscription, and replacement) are available via Internet FTP. Larger files, those exceeding 500 MB and most notably the retrospective files are segmented for FTP. Segment size is dependent on receipt system's capabilities. Contact CDS to arrange for the FTP of large files.

Record, Report, Label, and Notice Files

Three files are issued for each subscription issue. A 'label' file identifies the file and adheres to the standard for FTP File Label Specifications for MARC21 Records. The 'record' file contains the 21 data. The 'report' file contains a listing of the records in the issue and a totals/statistics report. Because of their size, no report files accompany retrospective files.

The 'record' file has a file name of:

/<product directory>.<volume>.<issue or date>.records
Ex. /emds/books/eng.v23.i01.records
/emds/bkall/daily.d010223.records
Note: The Books Daily file does not carry the volume and issue numbering but instead contains the date the file was created in a yy mm dd configuration.

The 'report' file has a file name of:

/<product directory>.<volume>.<issue or date>.report
Ex. /emds/books/eng.v23.i01.report
/emds/bkall/daily.d010223.report

The 'label' file has a file name of:

/<product directory>.<volume>.<issue or date>.label
Ex. /emds/books/eng.v23.i01.label
/emds/bkall/daily.d010223.label
Note : Appendix A to this document gives the full specifications and an example of the label file used by CDS.

Periodically, CDS will issue technical notices and announcements that contain important information for MDS subscribers. They typically include details about new or changed MARC data elements, LC practice, or new programs. Notices are also emailed to the technical services contact person as designated in the FTP registration /Order form. All CDS notices will be available via FTP with a file name of:

/<product directory>.notice.d<issue or date>
Ex. /emds/books/eng.notice.d011001

The preceding file name format reflects the naming conventions used to store the files on the CDS FTP Server. This is the file name that the customer will retrieve from the CDS host. It is possible because of system problems, workflow issues or holidays that a given distribution issue may not contain any records. In such cases null record, label, and report files are produced.

Pricing and Frequency

The daily, weekly, and monthly MDS files are available via FTP. The price designated for each MDS.

Technical Support

CDS will work with each customer individually to set up and test FTP. During normal working hours, CDS Technical support will be available to answer questions about system access, and to respond if or whenever an FTP transfer fails.

Library of Congress
Cataloging Distribution Service
Washington, D.C. 20541-4912 USA

Telephone (Customer Support): 202-707-6100
Toll-free within the U.S.: 800-255-3666
Fax (Customer Support): 202-707-1334
Email: cdsinfo@loc.gov

Appendix A: Label File Description

The full specifiations for the standard for Electronic Transfer Label Files can be found on pages 55 through 58 of MARC21 Specifications for Record Structure, Character Sets, and Exchange Media available by purchase from the Cataloging Distribution Service. Below is a brief description and example of the label file used by CDS in the FTP of the MARC Distribution Services.

Structure

The label file is written using only ASCII Latin characters. Each field in a label file begins with a three-character tag followed by two blanks (ASCII character 20(hex)). The field's data content follows the two blanks. Each field ends with an end-of-field marker (ASCII control character 1E(hex)) immediately following the data in the field.

Tags/Fields