SCATNews
Newsletter of the Standing Committee of the IFLA Section on Cataloguing

Number 7,
March 1997

HELLO / BONJOUR FROM THE EDITOR

SCATNews can only be as good as the contributions received from Section members. Many Section members from several countries contributed the articles in this issue. The next issue of SCATNews is planned for June 1997. If you have news items or articles to report, please contact me at:

National Library of Canada,
395 Wellington Street,
Ottawa, Ontario,
K1A 0N4,
Tel.: (819) 994-6887,
Fax: (819) 953 0291,

E-Mail: ingrid.parent@nlc-bnc.ca

Thank you and I hope you enjoy this issue.

Ingrid Parent

NEWS FROM THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE SECTION ON CATALOGUING

News from the Life of the Section in Beijing
by Suzanne Jouguelet,
Secretary of the Section on Cataloguing

1. In Beijing, our open programme comprised three papers: a Chinese one (Hao Zhiping) about Cataloguing in Publication in China, an Italian one (Isa de Pinedo) about a European project on cooperative cataloguing (Consortium of European Research Libraries), an American one (Winston Tabb) on "The Program for cooperative cataloging".

2. The two Standing Committee’s meetings allowed the members of the section to present the work of different working groups:
   • Working Group on ISBD (Computer files)
     30 comments have been received after the world wide review ending in April 1996 ; a final version has been prepared in December. After the ISBD maintenance group review, it will be submitted to the members of the section for voting.

   • Working Group on Functional requirements for bibliographic records
     The study has elaborated a conceptual model of the bibliographic universe and examined the functions of bibliographic records.
     The international review of the report has ended in November.
     The study group has met in Washington in February 1997 to make the synthesis of the comments and prepare a revised report.

   • Working group on Anonymous classics
     The first phase (European countries) is nearly completed. The UBCIM Office will offer this work as a publication on demand.
     The second phase covers countries from Asia and Latin America.
     The last phase will cover Arabic and African countries.

   • Working Group on Form and structure of corporate headings
     The working group met in Beijing and defined 9 areas to study more precisely for updating the previous document.
     A draft is to be submitted to the group this spring.

   • Working Group, under UBCIM sponsorship, about "Minimal level authority records and International standard authority data number"
     The Working Group met during the Beijing Conference and also met with representatives of the International Council of Archives who are developing an International Standard Archival Authority Record.

3. The meetings have allowed us to work on the future of the section :
   • the new Medium Term Programme (1998-2001) : we have elaborated our scope and prepared the list of our goals for this term.
   • proposed study of OPACs (display) : to be approved by the IFLA Professional Board, our study had to be broken into phases. Two members of the section agreed to prepare a new proposal, which was accepted.
   • 63rd IFLA Conference in Copenhagen
   • We decided on the major topics of our open programme : union catalogue efforts in Denmark ; report of the study on functional requirements ; a general paper about the future of cataloguing.
   • We also agreed upon the interest of a halfday workshop on Communication formats, organized with UBCIM.

ISBD (ER) formerly ISBD (CF)
by John D. Byrum

ISBD(ER) began as a result of a decision taken in 1994 by the IFLA Sections on Cataloguing and Information Technology to produce a new version of the International Standard Bibliographic Description for Computer Files (ISBD(CF)). A group was appointed and began work by holding a two-day meeting at the Library of Congress in April 1995 to discuss changes to the existing text to achieve the objectives indicated below. In addition, those at the meeting confirmed by appointment of Ann Sandberg-Fox as principal editor of the document to be produced.

There were four objectives set out for this revision project:

First, to provide for the emergence of interactive multimedia, a new and still developing technology that combines and stores products of audio and video technologies, together with text and graphics, on optical discs. To take account of this development, the ER added or amended provisions regarding sources of information (0.5), edition (area 2), dates (area 4), physical description (area 5) and the notes (area 7) to show treatment of interactive multimedia as a subset of electronic resources. Examples were be added to illustrate such files.

Second, to provide for developments in optical technology, as new and improved optical discs are replacing magnetic disks as primary storage devices. Here, ER was revised to cover not only CD-ROMs (compact disc read-only memory) but also CD-Is (compact disc interactive), and other emergent forms such as photo-optical compact disc. As a result, provisions in the Physical description area (area 5) and the definitions were also amended. The term "disk", currently used throughout area 5 to describe both optical and magnetic device, will henceforth apply only to magnetic devices, while "disc" will be used in relation to optical manifestations.

Third, to provide for the significantly increased availability of remote electronic files on the global network of networks known as the Internet. The authors of ER decided that the terms originally authorized to designate types of files ("Data" and "Program" and their combination "Data and program") are not adequate for the purposes of identifying the many different types of data files and software on the Internet. Indeed, the whole treatment of the Designation of file was thoroughly reworked and developed, with area 3 emerging as the one most thoroughly changed in revised ER. Consequently, ER authorized several levels of specificity.

Fourth, to provide for the bibliographic problems arising from reproductions of electronic resources such that many ER titles are now available in a variety of physical formats, the authors of the Second Edition made changes to areas 2 and 5 to better distinguish between an "original" and other versions thereof.

In addition, the Review Group agreed to significant modifications of the provisions concerning Sources of information (0.5). Area 4 ("Publication") was amended to require treatment of all remote ER as published materials.

World-wide review followed and engendered more than 30 submissions from individual readers, library associations and national libraries. Many of the commentaries were quite thorough and covered the document's stipulations from beginning to end.

Indeed, the sum total of these commentaries numbered about 110 pages of text, single-spaced. These papers were turned over to Ms. Sandberg-Fox, who has served as principal editor for the revision project and who prepared the text of the draft that was circulated. In compiling the responses, she found that there were extensive statements regarding: Area 0 (0.5-Sources of information); Area 1 (1.2-General material designation); Area 2 (2.1.1-Edition statement); Area 3 (3.1-3.2-Designation of file; Extent of file; and Appendix C (File designations)); Area 5 (5.1-5.2-Specific material designation; extent); and, Area 7 (7.7, 7.14-System requirements; Mode of access). The responses regarding these stipulations were a mixture of positive (in support of the given text) and negative (non-support of the given text) comments, accompanied by suggestions for changes and, in some cases, by actual proposed rewording of the text. In the case of each area, she developed an issue paper that relayed the specific comments in brief form which she eMailed to Review Group members to solicit their reactions.

To review these issues, taking into account members' comments, the chair invited Ms. Fox and Laurel Jizba to meet with him on August 17-18. This meeting produced decisions necessary to enable production of a revised draft for Review Group review, on all topics save one which had to be balloted via eMail. Among highlights of this meeting's results are the following points:

The scope statement (0.1) was be expanded to take account of online services, web sites, and other recent emerging electronic resources which were not formerly addressed by this ISBD.

Considerable refinement and formatting of directives regarding use of sources of information (0.2) was provided.

Definitions were expanded to include file designations to be used in area 3 (0.5).

In area 1, the GMD was changed from Computer File to Electronic resource (ER).

In area 2, the text was rewritten to clarify the concept of editions in relation to major or minor changes, with the result that frequently/continuously updated remote resources were not to be treated as separate editions but covered in area 7 (Notes).

In relation to type-and-extent of file area (3), the categories of resources enumerated in Appendix C were refined to make them mutually exclusive and to include further types of files (e.g. lists, web sites).

The most difficult problem dealt with regarding area 4 was to provide treatment for online resources with regard to date-of-publication issues, leading to provision for a note to cite month/day/year on the resource as of the time (e.g. "description of resource as of [date given on the source])" together a note to indicate that the resource is frequently updated when appropriate.

In Area 5 it was determined that for local access resources the particular optical formats may be added to the specific material designation for optical discs.

Notes were re-ordered to make them more logically related in the case of the system-requirements and mode-of-access notes. Appendix A (Multi-level descriptions) was be expanded to include provision for multi-part remote resources, as was Appendix C to provide definitions for terms used as specific material designators.

Thereafter, the members of the ISBD(CF) Review Group were formally asked to consider the resulting version of ER, and they unanimously voted to approve it. Subsequently, the ISBD Review Group studied the text and suggested a few changes to bring it into closer alignment with the general ISBD framework; that was done, and the text now incorporates these improvements. This final version has now been delivered to the UBCIM Office which will handle the final phase, balloting by the members of the Standing Committees that are responsible for the project. If approved as anticipated, the text will be published by K. G. Saur later this year.

IFLA Study on the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records
by Olivia M.A. Madison

The on-going IFLA Study on the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records is nearing completion. A six-month world-wide review for the study's draft document was completed on 30 November 1996. The study group received an excellent response rate. Forty responses were received from sixteen different countries. On 12-13 February 1997 the entire study group met in Washington, D.C. and reviewed and discussed all comments and is completing the final revisions to the study document based upon the comments it received.

The study evolved out of the recommendations of the Seminar on Bibliographic Records held in August 1990 in Stockholm, Sweden and sponsored by the IFLA UBCIM Programme and the IFLA Division of Bibliographic Control. The study's purpose is to delineate in clearly defined terms the functions performed by the bibliographic record with respect to various media, applications, and users needs. It covers the full range of functions for the bibliographic record in its widest sense. In addition, the final study report will propose a basic level of functionality and basic data requirements for records created by national bibliographic agencies.

The draft document was written by a study group appointed by the Standing Committee of the IFLA Section on Cataloguing. The current members of the study group are: Olivia M.A. Madison (Chair), John Byrum, Jr., Thomas Delsey (consultant), Elizabeth Dulabahn, Suzanne Jouguelet, Dorothy McGarry, Elaine Svenonius (consultant), Barbara Tillett (consultant), Nancy Williamson, and Maria Witt. Previous members were Nancy John (Chair, Aug. 1993-Aug. 1995) and Ben Tucker (consultant, June 1992-June 1993). The consultants have been responsible for directing the study and are the primary authors of the draft report.

The study took a user-focused approach to analyzing data requirements for bibliographic records. Quoting from the draft study report... "There are no a priori assumptions made about the record itself, either in terms of content or structure. The study endeavours to define exactly what it is that the user expects to find information about in a bibliographic record and how that information is used. The entity analysis technique that forms the basis for the methodology begins by isolating the entities that are the key objects of interests to users of bibliographic users. The study then identifies the characteristics or attributes associated with each entity and the relationships between entities that are most important to users in formulating bibliographic searches, interpreting responses to those searching and "navigating" the universe of entities described in bibliographic records. In assessing the relative value of each of the attributes and relationships associated with the various entities, the study group focused on the importance of each attribute or relationship to the user in his or her efforts to find, identify, select, or obtain a particular entity or group of entities" (p.2). Furthermore, the study recognizes that bibliographic records are used by many different types of users, collectively needing a wide-range of applications. In addition the study attempts to comprehensively look at the varying needs and users by all current types and forms of materials.

The majority of the individuals and libraries who commented on the document supported the directions of the draft report and the proposed basic requirements of a bibliographic records to be used by national bibliographic agencies. However, the comments also included some important issues for the committee to discuss further. For example, does the study adequately cover "seriality. " There were questions regarding the methodology used in terms of its user focus, and whether or not part/whole relationships were fully incorporated in the model. There were also requests that the final document include more examples that would carry through the entire report, and that the report should better define the relationships between work, expression, and manifestation. In its deliberations in February, the study group discussed these issues as well as all other issues that were raised by the respondents. The study group wishes to thanks all individuals and groups who participated in the review and for their thorough examinations of its study report. The final report will clearly benefit from the responses.

The study group is currently revising the report and plans on presenting it to the Section on Cataloguing and its Standing Committee during the 1997 IFLA Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. If the report is approved by the Standing Committee, that committee will make the decisions with the Divison of Bibliograhic Control and the IFLA UBCIM Office as to what the next steps will be for its publication dissemination.

LIBRARY REPORTS

Program for Cooperative Cataloging and CONSER Announce Consolidation
by John D. Byrum

The Executive Council of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) and the Policy Committee of the Cooperative Online Serials Program (CONSER), following separate and joint meetings at the Library of Congress, November 13-15, 1996, have agreed to join forces. Attendees described a number of advantages to combining the best of both programs, including the increased efficiency and effectiveness of a single, strong voice in the cataloging community to articulate the benefits of cooperative cataloging.

In addition, rapid changes in technology and shrinking financial and personnel resources were noted as powerful incentives for consolidation.

The Program for Cooperative Cataloging was begun in February 1995 upon the recommendation of the Cooperative Cataloging Council, now dissolved. The newly- consolidated PCC will comprise four technical programs: BIBCO, CONSER, NACO, and SACO. CONSER and NACO (Name Authority Cooperative Program) are both long- standing programs begun during the 1970's. BIBCO (Bibliographic Record Cooperative Program) and SACO (Subject Authority Cooperative Program) are still very young. BIBCO was begun in March 1996 as the successor to the National Coordinated Cataloging Program (NCCP).

Among other things, meeting participants identified a number of principles that will shape the combined program. Some of those agreed upon include: openness to all institutions that meet stated membership criteria; keeping decision-making at the lowest- possible levels; and, commitment to sharing costs as widely as possible.

The group went on to outline a new governance structure, under which the PCC will be administered by a single, representational Policy Committee and a small Steering Committee that is a subset thereof. Two Operations Committees, one each for the BIBCO and CONSER programs, will provide forums for active participation at the working level. Standing Committees for automation, standards, and training will assist the PCC in carrying its work forward.

Brian Schottlaender, Associate University Librarian for Collections & Technical Services at UCLA, is the current Chair of the CONSER Policy Committee and the newly-elected Interim Chair of the PCC Executive Council. As such, he will direct both programs and coordinate their restructuring. He will lead a small group in fleshing out the details of the consolidation for review by the membership in early 1997, with an eye toward effecting the change by October 1, 1997.

Schottlaender describes the consolidation as a natural development in the evolution of cooperative cataloging. It is only fitting, he notes, that two programs that have such very similar missions --the creation and maintenance of quality cataloging in a timely fashion and according to mutually agreed-upon standards-- should combine their efforts. The result will be a whole very much stronger than the sum of its parts.

International Conference on the Principles and Future Development of AACR
by Marg Stewart, National Library of Canada

In recent years, there have been repeated calls for fundamental revisions to the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules. The Joint Steering Committee for Revision of AACR (JSC) feels that it is now time to address these issues, taking into account present and future trends in information resources and information management. The International Conference on the Principles and Future Development of AACR is scheduled to take place from October 23-25, 1997 in Toronto, Canada. This conference will review the underlying principles of AACR, with a view to determining whether fundamental rule revision is appropriate and feasible and, if so, advising on the direction and nature of those revisions. Conference attendance is by invitation only. Approximately fifty experts will be participating from the "author countries" of AACR, namely, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. In addition, a very small number of observers from other countries will be attending so that the conference may benefit from experience and knowledge from other parts of the world.

More information on the conference is accessible through the conference web site at: http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/jsc/index.htm

MARC HARMONIZATION

The benefits of a harmonized format include easier and more efficient record exchange between the users and producers of MARC records, elimination of the need for conversion programs, and potential reductions in the expense of format maintenance and documentation. Whereas full harmonization of USMARC and CAN/MARC has been accomplished, the three libraries recognize that UKMARC must retain certain features of particular value to the UKMARC user community, and therefore full harmonization is not achievable in the short term. Partial alignment is being pursued immediately with full harmonization as a long-term goal.

Meetings of representatives of the BL, LC and NLC were held in Washington on December 2, 1996 and February 18, 1997. It was agreed that over the next few months, LC and NLC will formulate mechanisms for the coordination and approval of future format development as well as determine a schedule for implementation. To facilitate the continuation of the harmonization process with UKMARC, a MARC Harmonization Coordinating Committee was also established. The committee is interested in the following developments:

• Coordinating new developments in the UKMARC and harmonized USMARC and CAN/MARC formats;
  
• Seeking further opportunities for harmonization of the two formats;
  
• Ensuring that future development of the formats takes into consideration other international standards;
  
• Exploring the impact of changing technology on MARC formats.

In addition, a technical panel will meet regularly to discuss issues relating to the formats.

Associate Librarian of Congress Winston Tabb noted: "The MARC Harmonization Coordinating Committee will promote future opportunities for format convergence and ensure that future developments will continue to bring the formats closer together. The complete harmonization of USMARC and CAN/MARC into a single format is a signal achievement which will facilitate record exchange throughout the United States and Canadian bibliographic communities and beyond."

Adds Ingrid Parent, Director General, Acquisitions and Bibliographic Services at the National Library of Canada: "Although there are many benefits of format harmonization, perhaps the most significant is the potential for reducing the cost of cataloguing. The elimination of format differences across national boundaries will increase the pool of catalogue records available to libraries for copy cataloguing and resource-sharing activities."

Stuart Ede, Director of Acquisitions, Processing and Cataloguing at the British Library, welcomed the progress made, saying: "It was always going to be difficult, given the philosophical differences between UKMARC and the North American formats, to achieve full harmonisation in the short term. What we have achieved is a balanced outcome: on the one hand, coordinating development across the Atlantic; on the other hand, preserving the underlying compatibility of UKMARC with other national and international formats, which will facilitate co-operation with European partners as well."

Retroconversion of Library Catalogues in Norway
by Anne Munkebyaune

The basis of the work was the main entries of the alphabetical catalogue of 360,000 cards. Our objective was a total integration of this catalogue into BIBSYS shared cataloguing system. BIBSYS is a Norwegian library system for the university libraries, the National Library and most of the postgraduate colleges of Norway.

An important part of the work was to keep control of double or multiple entries. A main principle of the BIBSYS shared catalogue is "one document - one record". BIBSYS has a very useful application for the reuse of LC records which has been of great help in cases of no hits.
The hit rate was: BIBSYS: 16 %, LC: 32 %. The rest had to be retyped.

Six of the participants of this first project continued in a follow-up work which started in August 1996, this time as supervisors of 50 people who are converting two new catalogues; the national union catalogue which is being integrated into UBO:BOK, the system on The University of Oslo Library and a few smaller catalogues of different departments of the same university library that were to be integrated into BIBSYS. The idea was to spread the competence and knowledge of the first six to benefit a larger-scale project where we can get more done than if the same six were to have worked alone. This project is expected to continue for two years.

Other projects:

The First Project of Cooperative Cataloguing in Russia
by Kasparova N.N., Shraiberg Y.L.

Last years the RBC extended the list of the central cataloguing products issuing bibliographic information not only in a card form but also in a machine-readable form (on diskettes). Nevertheless more and more libraries, especially on a federal level, pass to the technology of independent processing of documents using computers.

II. Beginning from 1994 Russian specialists started to discuss the problem how to modify the existed centralized cataloguing system, to substitute it by a decentralized sample on the base of the cooperation between the biggest Russian libraries and the Russian Book chamber for the creation of the central bibliographic information bank about national printed production as it is in the OCLC.

In 1995 the first project of the cooperative cataloguing in Russia was created by the order of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. The project leader is Dr. Shraiberg Y.L., deputy director of GPNTB of Russia, executors are leading specialists of all national and biggest libraries of the RF (RSL, RNL, GPNTB of Russia, BEN PAN, GTsNMB, VGBIL, etc.) The creation of "Russian OCLC" is not a simple problem because of the absence of a real computer library network although there is a group of Russian libraries working on-line. Cooperative systems of the library integration are practically absent with the exception of the automation system of Union Catalogue of Scientific and Technical Literature supporting by the GPNTB of Russia beginning from 1987. The creation of the national centre of cooperative cataloguing is complicated by the heterogeneous nature of the library and information infrastructure in Russia, by the enormous volumes of retrospective collections and new receipts.

Also the very important task for all Russia is the entrance into the global information systems, that will make possible to use the cataloguing results of other countries to reduce expenses on processing of foreign documents in Russia as well as a transmission of data about Russian printed production to the interested foreign libraries, institutions, persons.

III. The main purposes of the cooperative cataloguing project are the following:

1. creation of a united system for the cooperative cataloguing of home documents and a centralized storage and an on-line access to the data for participating libraries and other users;
2. maintenance of a free and wide access for users to library and information resources of Russia and other countries including all printed production;
3. organization of a powerful telecommunication host centre on the base of the Internet to access to the foreign data bases including OCLC, to exchange, and to use bibliographic information;
4. reduction of financial expenses, working and material resources on the creation and exploitation of OPACs as well as on the creation of other library and information products and user services, first of all removing the duplication in the document processing;
5. retrospective cataloguing conversion for all libraries of the country.

1. supporting the information and linguistic compatibility of Russian libraries’ OPACs and databases (DB) to realize the exchange of bibliographic and other data between libraries independently of their ministry and regional belonging, and also to provide an effective service of users;
2. supporting the information and linguistic compatibility between the central data base of the Russian cooperative OPAC, OPACs of System member-libraries and System users and the most developed library and information systems of the West countries (first of all with the OCLC);
3. forming and supporting the cooperative DB collecting data, processing and holding bibliographic and address and reference information about new receipts of home and foreign literature to the libraries participating in the RCCC;
4. placing at users’ disposal a complex of library and information services to support the effective using of documents and collections, to coordinate the forming of Russian document resources and their control;
5. creating and introducing to the Russian libraries activity new forms, means, and methods of library and information service;
6. coordinating and supporting with the information the library interloan service.

The common principles for the functioning of the cooperative cataloguing centre are using of:

1. common national cataloguing rules based on the ISBD;
2. national communicative format being the Russian customization of the UNIMARC;
3. common program and technological support of the System.

Home and foreign experience of library systems operation is being taken into account also as the following realities:

1. Automation System of the United Catalogue for Scientific and Technical Literature (GPNTB of Russia) and the RBC centralized cataloguing system support the initial technological base for the creation of the RCCC;
2. compatibility of Russian national cataloguing rules and international cataloguing rules. This fact and the work for their bringing together (also as the creation of the national bibliographic format) will support the realization of the information compatibility of the RCCC catalogues bibliographic entries and international, in particular Anglo-American, cataloguing rules;
3. certain experience of creating and operating modern telecommunicative systems is accumulated in the GPNTB of Russia, that gives a real base for the realization of RCCC tasks in the part to support a remote access of home and foreign users to its resources.

The initial stage of the creation of the RCCC is financed from the state budget as a target destination. All complex of works of creating, supporting, developing the System and users serving is represented to the Russian Government to legalize as a state order.

Founder and member fees of the System member-institutions may be the partial capital of the System. Later, on the stage of the mass service, System users will pay for the bibliographic and other information at pricing making by the System Council.

IV. Information and functional structure of the Russian Centre of Cooperative Cataloguing and the structure of the host-centre are represented on Ill. 1 and Ill. 2.

1) Local workstations
2) Application server
3) File server
4) Communication server
5) Asynchronous modems pool
6), 7), 8)Dedicated circuit
9) Network "Iskra-2"
10) TFOP
11) Network X.25
12) Internet (TCP/IP)
13) Project member-libraries

1) Suppliers of bibliographic information about foreign literature
2) OCLC
3) Automation systems of national bibliographies: British Library, etc.
4) Suppliers of bibliographic information about home literature: RBC and/or RSL, RNL
5) Cooperative Cataloguing Centre
6) First level user-libraries with rights to supply the information about some home issues and to do changes in the Data Bank
7) Second level user-libraries (without the right of doing changes)

            2                 3
          OCLC           Automation 
                         systems of 
                          national
                        bibliographies


          4                  5                   6
     Suppliers of       Cooperative      First level user-
     bibliographic      Cataloguing    libraries with rights  
     information          Centre          to supply the
     about home                         information about  
     literature                          some home issues
                                        and to do changes
                                         in the Data Bank
 
                             7
                       Second level 
                      user-libraries 
                   (without the rights 
                     of doing changes)

National Library of Iran Cataloging Dept.
by Zohreh Alavi

Introduction

Historical background

Cataloging and Classification Policy

In order to be as compatible with the international world as possible, it was decided that A.A. Cataloging Rules, 2nd ed. be used for cataloging both Persian and foreign books. As to the use of A.A.C.R. modification had to be done, especially in the case of the application of ISBD’s in non-roman scripts.

For the identification and standardization of the author’s name which is one of the greatest difficulties of Persian Cataloging, N.L. of Iran has published The Name Authority List of Authors and Famous People.

Corporate Bodies

Uniform names for Iranian corporate bodies, especially government organizations, form one of the major problems in Persian cataloging. To solve this problem, N.L. of Iran has published The Authority List of the Iranian Governmental Corporate Bodies which contains entries for major corporate bodies with all necessary references.

Subject Headings

The Library of Congress Subject Headings are used for all books, except those in Persian and Arabic. A Persian List of Subject Headings is being prepared and published. This S. H have been compiled and edited by Ms. Poori Soltani, a member of Standing Committee on Classification and Indexing. The list includes quite a number of S. H concerning Islam and Iran that do not appear in the Library of Congress List. The philosophy and form follow closely that of the Library of Congress List of Subject Headings, but it is in no way a translation of it. This is the first time that a list of S. H as such has ever been published in Iran.

Classification Policy

L.C. Classification and D.D. Classification (both latest ed.) are used and each catalog card is printed with both numbers. This devise enables different libraries to choose which ever system they need.

Special Iranian expansions of the D.D.C. and the L.C. Systems are being prepared for subject relating to Iran:

• Iranian Language, 2nd. ed.
  
• Iranian Literature, 2nd. ed.
  
• Iranian History & Geography, 2nd. ed.
  
• Islamic Philosophy and Philosophers (in process)
  
• Islamic Religion, 2nd. ed. (under press)

Two systems of Iranian author marks have been prepared, one based on Cutter-Sanborn Three Figure Table and the other based on the Library of Congress system.

Recent Projects and Activities

Since 1994, Cataloging Dept. was quite active. The activities of the library have so far Centered on Computerizing Cataloging and National Bibliography. We have succeeded to enter 50,000 records to computer. We are also trying to devise the Iran Marc format on the basis of Unimarc, using the above mentioned database as our starting point.

National Bibliography of Iran

The N.B. of Iran , which was usually 2 or 3 years behind, is now completely up to date. The Cataloging Dept. is now doing the cataloging of the current books of the month. However it is not only up-dated, but we also brought it up to a new standard, with successful adaptation of Unesco Guidelines, using international rules and devices. By doing this many librarians have been relieved from the hard task of cataloging and recataloging of the same book over and over again, thus saving the country’s expenditure, manpower and time.

The National Bibliography now consists of all books, pamphlets, talking books, and books for children published in Iran in any language, plus Persian books published in other countries and books about Iran and Islam published abroad.

CIP Project

Since Dec. 1995, N.L. of Iran has announced its CIP service for all books published in Iran, free of change. This project is now in progress.

Iranology and Islamic Studies Department

In this Department we collect all books, articles, and theses written in languages other than Persian and Arabic about Iran or Islam.

At the moment we have acquired some 15 thousand items. In order to incorporate these into the National Bibliography and interfile the catalog cards in the public catalog in one alphabetical order we have adopted new policies.

According to this policy, the main entry is transliterated into Persian and the subject(s) and the added entries are in Persian.

Cataloging of Books for the Blind

The current talking books for the blind are included in the National Bibliography of Iran since 1995. These titles are traced regularly through direct contact with libraries and production centers. The books are then catalogued according to a standard format compatible with the rest of the data included this Bibliography. The National Bibliography of Iran is published every 6 months and each semi-annual issue includes 40-50 new talking book titles. The libraries that have a production center receive a free copy of this bibliography.

Cataloging of manuscripts

For cataloging of manuscripts a new format is designed according to international standards. Manuscripts are cataloged almost the same way as printed matter with Subject Headings and all other added entries. So far, we do not assign any classification no. because they are kept according to accession no. in a closed stock.

Cataloging of Children Books

A simple cataloging rules is used for children’s book. All books are cataloged under the title, because majority of the children ask for almost all books by the title and not by the author because most of the children books in Iran are translated from foreign sources. Foreign names are very strange to the ears of children and very difficult for them to learn or remember. A special subject headings devised for children materials which is based on books cataloged in N.L. of Iran. This S.H. will be published in near future. As for the classification we only assign DDC. The latest abridged edition is translated into Persian for this purpose.

1997 IFLA CONFERENCE

Members of the Standing Committee of the Section on Cataloguing have also been working hard to plan the Section’s program.

The theme for the Open Session of the Section will be "Cataloguing for the 21st Century". Topics that will be covered include DanBib, a user-friendly union catalogue, presented by Troels Andreassen and Tommy Schomacker, and a report on the Study on the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records, to be given by Olivia Madison. The session will end with a presentation by Michael Gorman on the future of cataloguing and cataloguers.

The Section is also planning to hold a half-day Workshop, in cooperation with the UBCIM Core programme. The theme of the workshop concerns the future of communication formats for handling bibliographic data. Speakers and topics include Fernanda Campos for UNIMARC, Paul Bunn, John Byrum and Ingrid Parent for "Harmonized MARC", Juka Hakala on the Nordic Metadata project, and Catherine Lupovici on Cataloguing in SGML.

As for all workshops, registration is required and is limited to 50 participants. If you are interested in attending this workshop, please register with Ingrid Parent.

Committee members hope that many Section members and other IFLA participants will attend the Open Session and the Workshop. They both should be very interesting, informative and stimulating!