Cataloguing and Processing
A Resource for School Library Personnel
Chapter 13: Sources of MARC Records
MARC data may be obtained for current cataloguing either in batch form or on an "as needed" basis. It may also be obtained for retrospective conversion purposes.
The term retrospective conversion (recon) is typically used to describe the process of converting bibliographic records from their printed form, such as shelf list cards, to full machine-readable bibliographic records. The term retrospective is used because the project is done for the library's existing collection. Usually, the conversion is accomplished by a "matching" process which permits the purchase of full MARC records from an already existing database.
There are a number of ways to acquire MARC data and equally numerous vendors of such materials. Several are listed below.
13.1 National Library of CanadaThe National Library of Canada offers access to a bilingual information system known as AMICUS. This bibliographic database contains millions of bibliographic records and holdings information as well as over half a million authority records.
National Library of Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0N4
Telephone: 819-997-7227
Fax: 819-994-6835
Internet: cic@nlc-bnc.ca
ENVOY 100: its.cic
TTY: 613-992-6969
WWW: http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/7/2/
A-G Canada Ltd. offers a number of recon packages at various prices. It is one of the largest MARC databases in the world (formerly ISM).
Address:
A-G Canada Ltd.
3300 Bloor Street West
9th Floor, Center Tower
Etobicoke ON M8X 2X3
Telephone: 1-800-225-8534
Fax: 416-236-7489
www: http://www.ag-Canada.com
BiblioFile cataloguing provides the user with millions of English language MARC records derived from the Library of Congress and National Library of Canada. The data comes on compact disks and is searched in-house. Additional foreign MARC data is available on separate subscriptions.
The Library Corporation
Research Park
Inwood WV 25428-9733
Telephone: 304-299-7816
Voice: 800-624-0559
Fax: 304-229-0295
E-mail: sales@bibfile.com
TKM Software of Brandon uses full MARC records and its database is derived from the National Library of Canada. TKM offers a number of different service plans, including a one time license (single or multi-user), optional customer support plans (including a Bronze Plan which gives toll free telephone support) and an annual license.
TKM Software Ltd.
839 18th Street
Brandon MB R7A 5B8
Telephone: 204-727-3873
Fax: 204-727-5219
E-mail: eastley@alpha.tkm.mb.ca
Brodart, Baker and Taylor, National Book Service, United Library Services, Smart Apple and others all offer MARC cataloguing for new materials. Any records offered for sale in Microlif or "MARC-like" format and not full MARC format should be avoided. Full MARC record format is recommended since it is the unofficial standard for electronic cataloguing records. Full MARC records (as opposed to MARC records that have been "stripped" of their tags) are required for error free importing and exporting of these records from one library automated system to another. This is important to ensure that these records can be down-loaded from the vendor's disk to your system. MARC records would also be required to facilitate electronic resource sharing generated by accessibility to catalogues via the Blue Sky Freenet or other Internet access providers.