- Acquisitions
- Cataloging Tools, Documentation
- Catalogs, Authority Records
- Classification and Shelflisting
- Cooperative Cataloging Programs
- General, Descriptive Cataloging
- Products for Purchase
- Professional Activities
- Publications, Reports
- Subject & Genre/Form Headings
Subscribe
Receive an e-mail when a new issue of the Library of Congress Cataloging Newsline is available.
7/15/2010
1. Background
The concept of a BIBCO Standard Record (BSR) stems from the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) efforts to revise the former 'core' and 'full' level standards and replace those modes with a single metadata application profile (MAP) that uses a single encoding level (blank). This approach follows a similar PCC model for serials, the CONSER Standard Record (CSR) that was implemented in 2007. The first BSR approved by the PCC is for textual monographs. This BSR replaces the BIBCO Core Level Standard for Books; additional standards for non-textual materials are being developed and some will be implemented at LC when they are approved.
The BSR MAP represents a 'floor' record that promotes an essential set of elements to support user tasks to find, identify, select, and obtain needed resources. Emphasis is given to access points, not to extensive descriptive data. It includes elements that are mandatory (M) for all records, and those that are mandatory where applicable (A). It avoids requiring unessential and redundant elements. Although records following the BSR are considered to be as full as is necessary for user tasks, the BSR also emphasizes cataloger judgment to provide elements above the 'floor' if the additional information is warranted based on cataloger judgment, awareness of additional local user needs, local business factors, local system or program needs, etc. The Library of Congress has also supplemented the MAP with a few additional mandatory and mandatory if applicable elements.
2. LC Implementation of the BSR for Textual Monographs
LC's implementation of the BSR follows over a decade of using the PCC Core Level guidelines as the default cataloging mode for books. LC ceased coding its records as PCC records in the 042 field when it adopted a change in policy related to series access points in 2006, but continued to follow PCC standards in all other respects. The BSR MAP, as supplemented by LC, will almost exactly replicate the core level records produced for the last four years-- the most significant exceptions are:
- all records will once again be coded with the value "pcc" in field 042, and
- Ldr/17 (Encoding level) in completed records will be '8' (for CIP titles at the prepublication stage) or blank (for all other titles). Catalogers will no longer have to decide whether a record is 'core' or 'full'—all BSRs are coded as full. Encoding level '4' will no longer be used.
For materials done under the CIP program and those for which LC does original cataloging, in essence, the BSR becomes the base mode of cataloging. However, cataloging sections have the discretion to use other cataloging levels to more nearly keep current with receipts, including minimal level cataloging, encoding level 3, etc. Only full level records should be coded as PCC records in field 042. LC will also continue to make use of external records for copy cataloging, including those done by PCC participants (PCC adapts); only the latter will be coded as PCC records in field 042. All other copy cataloging will contain 'lccopycat' in field 042, not 'pcc'.
3. LC BSR Supplemental Data Elements
LC has determined to apply, as appropriate, additional elements judged fitting to the LC environment. This augmented standard is referred to as "LC BSR" The LC BSR meets the standard prescribed by IFLA's Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records. These additional data elements are as follows:
- 008 all fixed fields will be coded
- 043 (Geographic area code)
- 082 (Dewey Decimal call number), when applicable
- 300 $c (Dimensions)
- 504 (Bibliography note)
For non-Latin script materials, romanized data are supplemented with non-Latin script equivalents following the PCC Guidelines for Multiple Character Sets (note: these guidelines are currently under revision).
4. Identification of LC BSRs
Non-CIP Materials
Materials not receiving CIP cataloging will be identified by the following two data elements when completed:
- MARC 21 Leader 17 (Encoding level) = [blank]
- 042 (Authentication code) = pcc
At the Initial Bibliographic Control (IBC) stage, records will continue to be identified as being "in-process" with encoding level 5.
CIP Materials
Value 8 in MARC 21 Leader 17 is needed to identify records in the CIP state until the record is upgraded based on receipt of the item. All CIP galley records should also contain 042 = pcc. When the item is received and the record is verified, the encoding level will be changed to blank and the 042 will be retained.
5. Existing Cataloging Documentation
Given the similarities between the BSR approach and the previous PCC ‘core’ level guidelines for books, and the impending testing and possible implementation of RDA, significant revision to existing cataloging documentation discussing core level cataloging will not be done at this time. Catalogers are generally encouraged to envision ‘BSR’ when they read documentation referring to ‘full’ and ‘core’.
By exception:
- disregard instructions to remove the 042 ‘pcc’ in full level CIP cataloging (all CIP records will contain ‘pcc’ in field 042), and
- disregard instructions to change IBC or now-verified CIP records to encoding level ‘4’ (all BSR records will have encoding level blank).
Catalogers are encouraged to forward additional questions on the implementation of the BSR to the Policy and Standards Division. In lieu of significant document revision, the LC BSR for Textual Monographs MAP is supplied in order to enhance the PCC model with LC-specific information.
