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I think the previous posting on the subject made the main points, which I would whole-heartedly endorse. It boils down to the fact that UK-MARC is a defunct standard which is no longer developed or maintained, which external databases no longer support (or will not support in the near future) and which library management systems will not support in the future either. At the moment, there is substantial expertise in how to convert data from UKMARC to MARC21 - that will slowly(?) disappear so you risk being left up a gum tree at some ill-defined point in the future. As to the experience, Leeds University migrated in 2002. The actual data migration was OK - though it can be a bit unforgiving if there are substantial unknown format errors in your data. Staff retraining went smoothly and everybody felt comfortable with MARC21 after about 3 months. MARC21 has strengths and weaknesses compared with UKMARC - they probably balance out overall, though the need to specify punctuation between subfields will drive you mad at first. But the bottom line is - you really don't have a choice. Either follow the standard or become progressively more out on a limb. Good luck! Michael ******************************************** Michael Emly Collection Management Services Team Leader Leeds University Library tel. +44 (0)113 343 6444 email: [log in to unmask] Postal address: Brotherton Library, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT -----Original Message----- From: Bibliographic standards in UK libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gilbert Martin (IMS) Sent: 24 April 2008 15:01 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Moving from UKMARC to MARC 21 Dear All I too would be interested in any comments from people who have migrated to MARC21 as I am in the same position as Vicky Many thanks Martin Martin Gilbert Print Resources Librarian Home Office Library Lower Ground Floor Seacole Building 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF Tel : 020 7035 4014 Fax : 020 7035 4022 email : [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Bibliographic standards in UK libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Vicky Robertson Sent: 22 April 2008 1:50 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Moving from UKMARC to MARC 21 Dear all, At present, we catalogue items at my institution on our library management system Unicorn in UKMARC format but have been advised to move to MARC 21. I would be grateful if people could let me know the following: - If people have moved from UKMARC to MARC 21 and why they moved - Experiences of using MARC 21 - the advantages and disadvantages of moving to MARC 21 - any hints or tips at dealing with MARC 21 Thanks very much Vicky Robertson School of Pharmacy Library This email was received from the INTERNET and scanned by the Government Secure Intranet anti-virus service supplied by Cable&Wireless in partnership with MessageLabs. (CCTM Certificate Number 2007/11/0032.) In case of problems, please call your organisation's IT Helpdesk. Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or recorded for legal purposes. ********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are private and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please return it to the address it came from telling them it is not for you and then delete it from your system. This email message has been swept for computer viruses. ********************************************************************** The original of this email was scanned for viruses by the Government Secure Intranet virus scanning service supplied by Cable&Wireless in partnership with MessageLabs. (CCTM Certificate Number 2007/11/0032.) On leaving the GSi this email was certified virus free. Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or recorded for legal purposes.