Word of the Week : MARC

WOW: MARC

Here’s a term that is neither new nor Millennium-specific! MARC is an acronym for “MAchine-Readable Cataloging” and is a term known by librarians around the world. It refers to the format of the data stored in most library catalogs including ours.

“Machine-readable” is a relatively old-fashioned term meaning “encoded in a form that can be interpreted by a computer’s hardware or software.”

Everything in our computer catalog – whether it’s a book, a DVD, or an art print bag – is represented by a computer record referred to as a “MARC record.” Your friendly catalogers in Technical Services use the precise, standardized MARC coding to create records so that an ILS (such as GEAC or Millennium) and its associated OPAC (such as GeoWeb, WebPac Pro, or Encore) can read and display information about library items consistently and quickly.

As you know, the title of an item appears many places in Millennium (such as in the patron record (checked out items), in the catalog, when checking in or renewing items in the Circulation mode, etc.). Because of the standardization, each part of the ILS that needs the title knows where to find it.

Speaking of titles, here’s a Millennium hint: To increase access in the catalog, titles are drawn from several MARC fields representing the title page, cover and spine (if different), alternate spellings (e.g. “2” and “two”), titles of songs, television programs. These various titles sometimes cause unusual search results in Millennium’s staff side. If you don’t find your title, expand the multi-entry selection at the top of the results list – it may be there!

The MARC records in our catalog originate in a variety of places. Some are delivered with newly purchased items, some are copied from a shared catalog (OCLC/WorldCat), and some are created here (“original cataloging”).

By using the MARC standard when creating records, library systems are built using a common, nonproprietary record format (making records transportable) and catalogers share records (saving cataloging time). “Hurrah!” say the catalogers, and the people awaiting new items say, “Amen!”

"Amen" to Barb Jarvis for telling us about 'MARC'.