BIBCO Program Parameters

1. Only institutions that are active independent NACO participants may be considered candidates for acceptance into the BIBCO Program.
2. OCLC institutions that are candidates for acceptance into the BIBCO Program must be active Enhance participants. This is a pre-requisite for granting the BIBCO National Level Enhance, therefore, if OCLC candidates are not Enhance members that requirement must be fulfilled prior to BIBCO training.
3. BIBCO participants are not required to designate all their cataloging as BIBCO records (042 = pcc).
4. BIBCO institutions agree to contribute a minimum of 100 bibliographic records annually.
5. BIBCO institutions agree to make available in a timely manner their BIBCO designated bibliographic records (042=pcc).
6. BIBCO participants agree that all access points on BIBCO designated bibliographic records will be fully supported by authority records. (Note the exception of unestablished series on core records below).
7. BIBCO participants agree to use the following documentation in the description of new bibliographic records:
   • Anglo American Cataloguing Rules 2nd rev.
   • ALA-LC Romanization tables
   • Library of Congress Rule Interpretations
   • MARC 21 bibliographic format
   • the inputting procedures and guidelines for bibliographic records.
8. BIBCO participants agree to assign at least one or two subject headings (at the appropriate level of specificity) from an established thesaurus or subject heading system recognized by the MARC 21 Format on BIBCO-designated bibliographic records e.g., ATT, MeSH, LCSH.

   Those participants using LCSH are expected to adhere to the principles and policies for its application and formulation as stated in current documentation issued by LC. (Note: This may include the need to assign a minimum of 4 headings, but no more than 10 are to be assigned, cf. LC Subject Cataloging Manual H180)

9. BIBCO participants agree to assign a classification number on BIBCO-designated bibliographic records (excluding those exempted in the core record standards) from an established classification system supported by the MARC 21 format e.g., Dewey, LC Classification (LCC).

   Those participants using LCC are expected to adhere to the principles and policies for its application and formulation as stated in current documentation issued by LC or in commercially available versions of the schedules.

10. BIBCO participants using the core record standard(s) are exempt from creating series authority records for unestablished series and may code these series as 490 0 on BIBCO designated bibliographic records.
11. BIBCO participants contributing full level bibliographic records must comply with the series policies and procedures as stated in the LC Descriptive Cataloging Manual Z1 supplement to the MARC 21 Authority Format and the LCRIs.
12. New participants agree to participate in a 2 or 3 day BIBCO orientation. Funding for the travel, lodging, and subsistence of a BIBCO Regional Trainer to present this workshop will be the responsibility of the institution joining the BIBCO Program.
13. New participants agree to have their records reviewed for compliance to the established guidelines following the BIBCO Workshop. The duration of the review period will be determined by the reviewer in consultation with the institution's BIBCO liaison and/or the BIBCO Coordinator.
14. BIBCO institutions agree to appoint a BIBCO liaison who is then eligible for rotational assignment to the BIBCO Operations Committee. This includes providing institutional support, at minimum the time necessary, for the individual to attend the Committee's annual meeting and to participate in BIBCO undertakings.
15. BIBCO participants agree to maintain open lines of communication with other PCC partners and especially with other BIBCO members in an effort to encourage the precept that the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of Program records is shared by all participants.

For more information read also the FAQ on the BIBCO Program or contact the BIBCO Coordinator or at 202.707.4551.