Accomplishments as of January 1, 1996

Following is a record of achievements of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging. These are grouped together in relation to each of the Goals comprising the Program's Strategic Plan.

Goal 1. Together, increase the timeliness, cost effectiveness and availability of bibliographic and authority records through shared cataloging.

Increased the availability of name authority data processed through NACO:

• from 66,318 in FY1992,
• to 73,482 in FY1993,
• to 78,176 in FY1994,
• to 92,179 in FY1995

for an overall increase of 38.9% NACO libraries contributed 44% of the records added to the National Authority File in FY1995.

Increased the availability of series authority data processed through NACO:

• from 1,427 in FY1992,
• to 1281 in FY1993,
• to 3126 in FY1994,
• to 4,476 in FY1995

for an overall increase of 314%.

Increased the availability of subject headings included in Library of Congress Subject Headings through proposals processed through SACO:

• from 678 in FY1992,
• to 1031 in FY1993,
• to 918 in FY1994,
• to 1,954 in FY1995

for an overall increase of 288%.

Increased number of libraries participating in PCC programs:

• from 86 libraries in FY1992,
• to 104 libraries in FY1993,
• to 140 libraries in FY1994,
• to 203 libraries by Oct. 1, 1995

for an overall increase of 236%.

Since FY1992, "funnel" projects (those where institutions band together under a project leader to contribute PCC records in areas of mutual interest) have developed as follows: Hebraica Funnel, North Dakota Funnel, PACSCL, Art NACO Funnel, Africana SACO Project, Dance Heritage Coalition, OLAC Funnel. The previously existing Music Funnel has expanded to include additional members.

Beginning in FY1995, PCC participants have shared responsibility for training new NACO and BIBCO libraries, thus enabling new members to reduce their training and start-up costs by taking advantage of nearby expertise.

To facilitate Program expansion by decreasing internal costs to new and existing members, LC's Cataloging Policy and Support Office initiated a systematic review of cataloging documentation in FY1994, with several RI's and DCM's abolished or simplified. (A model RI was developed to make it easier to comprehend the information imparted and has been implemented.)

A Program participant created a NACO Participants Manual and LC has maintained this document for Program users. Documentation to standardize name authority and series authority training has also been prepared and is under consideration for publication.

The Program has developed Core Records for books, music and sound recordings to increase the pool of available bibliographic records contributed through BIBCO. Standards for Core Records for materials in non-roman scripts (JACKPHY) and for AudioVisual items are under development and expected to be announced in FY1996.

The Program's Executive Council has promoted efforts to provide access and control to electronic material now proliferating, leading to development of an agenda adopted by the recently appointed ALCTS Task Force to Define Bibliographic Access in the Electronic Environment.

Under the PCC a thorough review of issues related to the 670 field for name authorities was initiated by CPSO with the result that the requirements for information recorded in this field were better defined and simplified regarding form and style.

The PCC Program expansion described above provided a major impetus to LC/OCLC/RLG to implement last year FTP capabilities for the contribution of records, greatly increasing the efficiency of the transfer of data.

To facilitate BIBCO contributions from its members that are also PCC partners, OCLC implemented National Level Enhance status

Goal 2. Develop and maintain mutually acceptable standards for records.

Development of the specifications for the Core Level Record, indicated above, was based on extensive consultation with the Library community and these standards are being maintained and expanded to other materials by the PCC's Standing Committee on Standards.

CONSER has followed the PCC lead in developing a Core Level Record profile for serials, and LC has implemented it in relation to cataloging its Hebraica serials arrearage.

To accomplish the increase in cooperative production of series authorities records, LC developed standardized courses and to date has offered three training sessions for PCC participants.

In response to PCC concerns, LC's CPSO has streamlined the editorial process for handling subject heading proposals with the result that SACO contributions are handled much more quickly and with less effort at both ends. In FY1995, three SACO contributors were declared "independent" in this area.

A CPSO/PCC Task Group explored a longstanding concern about rules for placement of problematic categories of headings, such as events, in the name authority file or the subject authority file. Recommendations have been approved by the Executive Council.

During 1995, there were 3 new Library of Congress Rules Interpretations (RI's), 4 deleted RI's and 27 revised RI's to implement a PCC objective seeking review and simplification of documentation issued by CPSO to support consistent application of AACR2R.

Following submission of a report by the PCC/CPSO Task Group to Revise and Simplify Subject Cataloging Documentation and Procedure on Sept. 29, 1995, CPSO has devised a time-line and action plan for revision of the Subject Cataloging Manual, with delivery of text to CDS by April 1, 1996 for publication in summer.

A PCC Task Group on AACR Revision is completing review of recommendations for revision and will submit a package of proposals to LC and CC:DA by April 1996.

The PCC Task Group on AACR Revision has initiated preparation of a position paper for the PCC to consider in relation to fundamental principles upon which AACR is based, starting with cataloging of computer files; this work will feed into an international conference planned for 1997 on the topic of AACR principles.

Goal 3. Promote the values of timely access and cost-effectiveness in cataloging and expand the pool of catalogers who catalog to the mutually-accepted standards.

A major training event held in Sept. 1995 to launch the BIBCO expansion projected by the PCC Strategic Plan included a major component on catalogers' values and the need to balance "more","better," "cheaper," and "faster," as goals in the daily production of catalog records.

The series institutes mentioned above as well as the NACO Training the Trainer courses held in 1995 all stressed the importance of catalogers assuming responsibility for judgement calls in cataloging to the mutually-accepted standards, now expanded to include a Core Level Record.

A total of 31 representatives from PCC institutions have been trained in the workshops connected with series training, NACO Training the Trainer courses, and the BIBCO training event mentioned above, thus expanding the pool of catalogers who catalog to PCC standards and are educated in the identified values.

The NACO Participants Manual and a handbook on music cataloging recently issued by the NACO Music Funnel Project recognize the need for timely access and cost-effectiveness in cataloging.

Goal 4. Enable and encourage the use of authority and bibliographic information created outside the U.S.

The British Library (BL) has been an active member of the PCC, contributing name authority records and subject heading proposals since January 1993, and is preparing to expand its contributions significantly in 1996/1997.

The National Library of Conada has also been an active participant in SACO since late 1994.

Encouraged by the PCC, BL and LC have negotiated a Cataloguing Policy Convergence Agreement which greatly reduces different practices in application of AACR2 for form of headings, paving the way for reconciliation of past policies that were substantially different in many regards.

NLC has also examined and documented its application of AACR2 in relation to practices at LC and those proposed by the Cataloging Policy Convergence Agreement. NLC is continuing to work toward harmonizing its practices and rule interpretations with those followed by LC and BL.

Oxford and other U. K. libraries are now contributors to NACO or SACO.

With PCC backing, LC/NLC/BL representatives have met to discuss alignment of USMARC, CANMARC, and UKMARC. At a meeting in Dec. 1995 an action plan and timeline were developed to accomplish reconciliation of formats for bibliographic records before the year 2000.

The Deutsche Bibliothek has indicated an interest in developing a strategy for overcoming differences in cataloging practices and formats, sending a delegate to the 1995 MARC Alignment Meeting.

With formation of the PCC came also the Foreign MARC Coalition, a group of representatives from LC, NLC, OCLC, RLG, and ISM to plan strategies for the cost-effective acquisition/conversion/re-distribution of cataloging data from foreign national bibliographic agencies. This group meets twice annually to exchange information and coordinate activities in this area. All members have made substantial increases in their holdings of such records since FY1992.

In FY1993/4, the Foreign MARC Coalition identified a list of key matching fields identified which will facilitate use of record matching programs when loading foreign MARC records.

An experimental node with the University of Newcastle became operational in FY1995 in order to provide a basis for enabling contributions to NACO by the Australian Bibliographic Network when it has accomplished re-systemization.

Discussions with representatives at the National Library of New Zealand were initiated in FY1995 to establish the possibility of a NACO-link there.

The British Library, American Academy in Rome, Oxford University and Trinity College, Dublin use Library of Congress Subject headings and are active SACO contributors.

Goal 5. Provide for ongoing discussion, planning, and operations among participants in order to further the program's mission

The Program is a democratically based organization with decisions provided by an Executive Council which includes both permanent and elected members as well as "operational advisors".

The PCC has actively involved a large number of cataloging practitioners, automation specialists and administrators in the development of its Strategic Plan and the initiatives to realize goals and objectives.

The Executive Council has established 3 standing committees -- Standards, Training, and Automation -- in recognition of the importance of these areas for the progress of the Program. These units, largely composed of representatives from among the participants, pursue agendas related to the Program's strategic plan and report results semi-annually to insure progress.

The PCC regularly informs its constituencies of developments, decisions, and topics for which input is wanted through such listservs as COOPCAT, AUTOCAT, and also regularly issues announcement in AN2 and LCCN.

Executive Council members seek opportunities to speak at the meetings of organizations with interests in the PCC and its activities.

The Program has set up reflector lists for its Executive Council, for certain of its Task Groups, and for its trainers to facilitate discussion among members of these groups.

The Program operates according to a Governance document that is publicly available and regularly reviewed.

The Program implemented a Home Page on the World Wide Web in January 1996 to provide for informational exchange among participants and others with interest in its activities.

The PCC Executive Council annually reviews its Strategic Plan in order to assure that its goals are being met and to update it to reflect the current environment.

In recognition of the importance of the Program's activities to the profession and to their constituencies, the Library of Congress, OCLC, Research Libraries Group, and Council on Library Resources have contributed both grants and in-kind support to its activities.