Interim Report: PCC 042 Task Group

The 042 Task Group's Charge reads as follows:

"Keeping in mind one of PCC's goals (Goal 2.1 of the PCC Strategic Plan) mandating that PCC establish practices and conventions that support cost-effective cataloging, the PCC Policy Committee charges the 042 Task Group to:

• Explore the usefulness of developing a code for inclusion in the 042 field of a bibliographic record which would indicate that access points for names on pre-AACR2 records have been evaluated and established to current rules and which are represented by records in the national authority file.
• Determine whether such a code, if implemented, would be restricted to BIBCO participants only or BIBCO and NACO participants.
• Consult with the appropriate agencies concerning implementation of such a code.
• Determine what documentation would need to be created and/or changed to reflect the implementation of such a code."

To address the first element of our charge, the Task Group compiled and distributed a brief questionnaire to Heads of Technical Services in BIBCO libraries (Attachment 1). The due date for responses is Friday, October 27th, so we anticipate being able to provide at least general feedback (if not an official tally of results) at the PoCo meeting. The only response that we have received to date was a question about whether the use of a new code for pre-AACR2 records would be optional for BIBCO libraries (answer: yes).

Members of the Task Group are in the process of consulting with representatives from OCLC (Glenn Patton), RLG (Ed Glazier) and CONSER (Jean Hirons) about the implementation of an additional 042 code. A code that would parallel the CONSER 042 code "lcd" would be an attractive possibility, given that there is already a model in place, and given that that the lcd code has proven to be very useful for CONSER participants. However, CONSER's use of the lcd code requires an element of checking (but not necessarily upgrading) the description of a pre-AACR2 record. We have included a question on the questionnaire related to this issue, to see how libraries would feel about including this additional requirement for a possible BIBCO code.

Initial feedback from the two utilities indicates that there is considerable concern about the cost and appropriateness of implementing a new 042 code. Glenn Patton provided us with an update of OCLC's progress toward providing linked authorities in WorldCat, which will in effect accomplish the same result as a new 042 code for OCLC libraries. Concern was also expressed by one of the utilities about the appropriateness of implementing a code that could only be used by PCC members when there may be a more universal need in the bibliographic format to indicate that the headings are constructed according to AACR2. However, proposing a code for more widespread use is beyond our Task Group charge, and would require a considerable effort to make such a proposal to MARBI. The timing of such a request is also something to be considered: why now, almost 20 years into the use of AACR2, and when at least one of the utilities is close to implementing another, more desirable approach to the situation?

The Task Group will be taking these provocative comments into account as we examine the results from the Questionnaire and prepare our final report in February. We plan to hold a Business Meeting during ALA Midwinter to work on this report.

-- Jennifer Bowen (TG Chair), Jain Fletcher, Kate Harcourt

042 Task Group Interim Report: Attachment 1
PCC 042 Task Group Questionnaire

September 28, 2000
TO: Heads of Technical Services of NACO and BIBCO Libraries
FR: Program for Cooperative Cataloging 042 Task Group

The PCC 042 Task Group has been charged to:

"explore the usefulness of developing a code for inclusion in the 042 field of a bibliographic record which would indicate that access points for names on pre-AACR2 records have been evaluated and established to current rules and which are represented by records in the national authority file".

To assist us in this effort, we would appreciate your responding to the brief questionnaire at the end of this message. Please email or fax your response, by Friday, October 27th, to:

Jain Fletcher

Interim Head, Cataloging Dept.

Research Library - UCLA

phone # - (310) 825-2901

e-mail: jfletchr@library.ucla.edu

FAX #: (310) 206-4974

Background:
At the ALA Mid-Winter 2000 meeting in San Antonio, Jennifer Bowen, Sibley Music Library, Eastman School of Music, led a discussion on the feasibility of BIBCO libraries coding pre-AACR2 bibliographic records as 042 "pcc" when the access points for names on the record has been evaluated and are represented in the national authority file, but when the cataloging description hasnot been upgraded to AACR2. The prevailing argument asserts that coding such records as BIBCO records would further the PCC's mission to: ". . .cooperatively increase the timely availability of authoritative records created and maintained under accepted standards [and] to facilitate the cost-effective creation and use of these records"

Many of the participants present agreed that it is not just the access points that comprise a BIBCO record but the cataloging as a whole and that AACR2 is the accepted basis of the descriptive cataloging. Many felt that a mixture of cataloging practices would be too confusing to users of PCC records and would undermine the quality of PCC cataloging which the Program has tried so hard to insure. Others suggested that a new code be defined for use in the 042 to designate the mixture of practice. This matter was referred to the BIBCO Operations Committee (OpCo) for deliberation at their May meeting. At that meeting, the consensus of the group was that, at this time, all BIBCO records should continue to be limited to AACR2-compliant cataloging and that pre-AACR2 cataloging should not be allowed to be labeled as "pcc." The group felt that as long as there are mixed feelings on the concept of the core record and as long as work remains to be done on the question of what a "pcc" record is and is not, it is not productive to add another element into the mix.

Even so, BIBCO OpCo continued to feel the idea had merit and was reluctant to give up entirely on the concept. Further discussion elicited ideas on the possibility of developing a code for inclusion in the 042 to indicate that access points for names on pre-AACR2 records have been evaluated against the authority file and established according to current rules. Our Task Group was formed to investigate this further.

To inform the 042 Task Group's discussions we ask your input on the following questions.

1. Do you believe that this code could provide useful information to help streamline your operation?

   Yes_____ No_____ Uncertain_____

2. Would you be willing to commit resources to apply this code properly and ensure its accuracy?

   Yes_____ No_____ Uncertain_____

3. The CONSER program currently uses the 042 code "lcd" to indicate that the headings on a record have been evaluated against the authority file and also that the description has been verified (but not necessarily upgraded, if pre-AACR2). Should a new 042 for monographs also include this element of verifying (but not upgrading) the bibliographic description to parallel the use of this CONSER code?

   Yes_______ No_______ Uncertain___________

4. Who should be authorized to apply this new code? (choose one)

   BIBCO libraries only_______ BIBCO and NACO___________

   Other (please explain)__________

5. Do you have any preferences about the name of the new code? e.g.,

   naco _____ auth ______ [other?] ___________________

6. Additional comments are welcome: