Core MARC Formats Transition Interest Group

"Pt.1: MARC & BIBFRAME" on Wednesday, 3/6/2024: 

Presentation Pt.1-#1:

Title: Creating a Hybrid Sustainable Environment for MARC and BIBFRAME

Presenter: Adina Marciano, Product Manager for Linked Open Data at Ex Libris

Summary: As libraries continue to move towards a linked open data (LOD) environment, it has become increasingly important to incorporate this approach into library management systems. Ex Libris is currently working with the LOD focus group to implement LOD in Alma's production environment while supporting both MARC and BIBFRAME in a hybrid environment. This presentation will discuss the different steps we are taking to support this, including: 

1. Using a unified record format allows users to choose their preferred metadata formats. 
2. Expanding the functionality of linked open data in MARC records enables a seamless transition.
3. Addressing the challenges of working with authority management LOD systems with MARC records and scalable APIs. 
4. Understanding the conversion between BIBFRAME and MARC: The challenge of how BIBFRAME and MARC are not always compatible and what solutions there are.

Presentation Pt.1-#2: 

Title: MARVAlous: LC's BIBFRAME Journey with FOLIO

Presenters: Paul Frank, Cataloging Policy Specialist, Library of Congress & Doug Loynes, Product Owner, EBSCO Information Services

Summary: The Library of Congress (LC) is embarking on the next phase of adopting BIBFRAME into its core cataloging workflows with its planned migration to EBSCO FOLIO in calendar 2025. EBSCO is developing a new module for FOLIO that will support the creation, management, and curation of linked data resource descriptions. The module incorporates a refactored version of the MARVA BIBFRAME editor – developed by the Library of Congress – as its front end interface. Additionally, the Library of Congress' deployment of FOLIO will necessitate supporting dual cataloging workflows. The purpose of this presentation is to share LC's experience as a participant in FOLIO's pilot project and to discuss operational and policy considerations for developing a robust data governance feature, that allows MARC and BIBFRAME to coexist.

Presentation Pt.1-#3:

Title: Transition Complications

Presenters: Nate Trail, Linked Data Specialist & Jodi Williamschen, Metadata Standards Specialist, Library of Congress

Summary: This presentation will be divided into two parts.  Part One will describe Library of Congress's concept of a governing record as LC transitions from MARC to BIBFRAME. As the Library's future system will be a dual format system (MARC and BIBFRAME), the governing record policy determines whether the MARC bibliographic description or the BIBFRAME bibliographic description is the principal one for any individual bibliographic description in the system.  Whichever format for a given record is deemed to be the governing one, the other is treated as a read-only derivative of the former. While this is a logical and relatively straightforward idea, it has nonetheless raised a number of additional questions, especially around bulk edit or bulk update operations.  This presentation will describe LC's progress with respect to its governing record policy, and it will illustrate a few of the challenges with it as LC transitions to a dual format system. Please note that this is a local system policy and should have no bearing on the data services offered by the Library of Congress; we want to share our approach if it may be of assistance to others in the community. 

Part Two will draw attention to MARC-to-BIBFRAME and BIBFRAME-to-MARC conversion challenges that can be ameliorated with attention to changes in current cataloging practice.  LC's work splitting a single MARC record into multiple BIBFRAME Instances based on 007s and 300s is possible because of careful cataloging practice, but not all catalogers approach the description of complex materials in the same way (even within LC!).  The silent pairing of MARC fields is another area where there have been challenges in part because of uneven cataloging practice.  Part Two will explore the intersection of conversion and cataloging practices.

"Pt.2: MARC to Linked Data - More Possibilities" on Friday, 3/15/2024:

Presentation Pt.2-#1: 

Title: Integrating Linked Data into Cataloging Workflows

Presenter: Anne Washington, Product Analyst, OCLC

Summary: As libraries continue to focus on new ways to facilitate the creation and sharing of knowledge, and as the volume and variety of information increases, metadata and metadata expertise is more important than ever. Evolving library data into linked data frees the knowledge in library collections and connects it to the knowledge streams that inform our everyday lives - on the web, through smart devices, and using technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). Building upon decades of research on the tools, standards, workflows, and strategies for making the transition to linked data, there have been significant advancements in the infrastructure, data, and services needed to bring linked data into today's library workflows. During this presentation, attendees will learn about recent developments that integrate linked data features into current cataloging workflows, establishing a bridge between MARC data and linked data, and connecting data across systems and services. These advancements include adding linked data identifiers to MARC records at scale, and enhancing existing cataloging applications to add valuable linked data elements into current MARC-based workflows. The move to linked data enables greater data interoperability and connections across a variety of both traditional and linked data formats. Supporting an array of data formats allows libraries and researchers to experience the benefits of linked data today, without making dramatic changes to existing systems, workflows, or behaviors.

Presentation Pt.2-#2: 

Tile: Everything You Wanted to Know About "Linky MARC" (and Were Definitely Not Afraid to Ask, Being Librarians)

Presenter: Abby Dover, Linked Data Librarian, Northwestern University

Summary: The goal of this presentation is to provide a brief but comprehensive and up-to-date guide to using URIs in MARC records (aka "linky MARC"). The main points of discussion will be: 

Presentation Pt.2-#3:

Title: Using Linked Open Data to Build a Culture of Collaboration at Yale University

Presenter: Timothy A. Thompson, Librarian for Applied Metadata Research, Yale University Library

Summary: To date, the transition from MARC 21 to linked open data has focused largely on information management. Major initiatives such as the Mellon-funded Linked Data for Production project have developed tools and workflows to support the transition from MARC to BIBFRAME in library technical services. Important work has also been done to leverage linked data for front-end discovery, but discovery has not typically been the starting point. At Yale University, a collaborative effort has been underway since 2019 to develop an integrated discovery platform using linked open data. That platform, called LUX: Yale Collections Discovery, encompasses over 17 million items across the university's libraries, archives, and museums. LUX implements the Linked Art standard, which is based on the CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model. Each collecting unit was responsible for mapping its source metadata, including the library's complete MARC 21 catalog of 12.2 million records, to Linked Art. The development and implementation of LUX required a concerted effort from a wide range of staff, including curators, technologists, and metadata analysts. These teams worked in unison to integrate their respective collections into a single platform. This focus on linked data for discovery has created a reference point that makes it possible to argue more persuasively for the value proposition of linked data and its potential not only to benefit users but also to build a culture of collaboration across an institution.