BIBFRAME to MARC Conversion: the Current State of Play
By Ben Abrahamse, MIT for PCC Task Group on MARC Simplification for BIBFRAME Conversion
Abstract: The PCC Task Group on MARC Simplification for BIBFRAME Conversion was created in February 2022 by the PCC Policy Committee, and given a charge to develop a simplified set of MARC fields to support the conversion of data created in BIBFRAME to functional MARC records. The membership of the Task Group consisted of thirteen cataloging and metadata librarians, representing a variety of institutions and metadata specializations. We examined existing BIBFRAME to MARC 21 conversion specifications, and evaluated their alignment with existing metadata application profiles, as well as the MARC format. The collaborative effort lasted through the summer, and the final report was issued in October 2022. I will share some of the accomplishments of this Work Group, which include a preliminary repertoire of MARC fields suitable for BIBFRAME-to-MARC conversion, as well as the identification of challenges that remain for data conversion from BIBFRAME to MARC.
Bio: Ben Abrahamse is a Cataloging and Metadata Librarian at the MIT Libraries. He has been involved in the Program for Cooperative Cataloging in a variety of roles since 2008, most recently as a Co-Chair of the PCC Task Group of MARC Simplification for BIBFRAME Conversion.