By Dr. Feruzan Akdogan
Summary of the main aspects and results of the Reuse-Project:
The context of the following Reuse-Project (Reuse+) was to analyze the different types of representations of hierarchical bibliographic structures in the formats USMARC, MAB2 and PICA with two purposes: to improve the programmes for the data conversions in both ways from USMARC to MAB2 and PICA and inversely and based on the first point to guarantee an enhanced international data exchange.
The differences between German and American library network systems were decisive for the variable logical and technical data models in the German and American practice: while in German library networks the modelling of the volumes of an multivolume work is done once in the central database representative for all participants, in American systems the specific multilevel structure is established by local systems.
The context of the project includes statistical material from OCLC concerning the occurence of variant fields for multivolume records: a statistical evaluation regarding the usage of the combinations tag 300 with tag 505, or tag 490 with 8XX. In both types tag 245 is used in different ways. In first the case tag 245 contains the collective title and in the second case mostly the distinctive title is put in tag 245. It is not clear in which way the subfields of tag 245 for the part of an multivolume work are used and what is the difference of using the combination 300 with 505 by multivolume items, which do not have distinctive titles.
The results of the statistical search shows that the combination of tag 300 and tag 505 is always used for multilevel items, the proportional part of the combination 490 with 8XX (and in most cases with 800) is not high and specific for multivolume records for the reason that in american format and cataloging rules there is no difference between limited and completed multivolume works and series.
A further problem is the differences of specific coded terms (monographic component part, monographic series, multipart item) which makes it impossible to convert the bibliographic infomation of the coded fields of USMARC into the German context.
Sally McCallum describes several models of linking-concepts for multilevel structured items in USMARC by using tag 773 and 774 in addition to the known tags and combinations of these. New are the thoughts to make a link from the particular volume to the collective title by the record identification number and to integrate more than one level.
In conclusion the Reuse-Project-Group suggests:
Concerning the USMARC-Format:
to use an indicator for dividing a completed multivolume work from an ongoing series work
to clearly define the usage of the tag 245 in combination with 300 and 505 or in combination with 490 and 800
to check the draft of Sally McCallum and the possibility of introducing a linking structure in American network systems
Concerning the German formats (MAB2 and PICA):
to overwork the deep hierachical structure in German data models and to integrate all levels in the volume record
to standardize the different structures for multivolume works and series in German systems
Concerning the international discussion platform:
to standardize coded terms in the international discussion
to standardize ongoing publications on the basis of the Hirons/Graham paper