Jon Knight wrote:
> As for the DC-Object types document, I think this also needs more
> discussion. Many of the categories are not mutually exclusive, and
> if they're not, guidelines need to be included to indicate what the
> metadata provider should use if the object can fall into more than one
> category. We in the library world have spent much time discussing genre
> types and it's a complex issue.
I had suspected this but not being a librarian I've no idea where to start
looking for these existing genre schemas (which is why I made one up from
BibTeX plus some other stuff and comments from other DCers). Does anyone
have any pointers available for any of the existing schemas?
*******
Jon,
There are a number of "standard" lists currently in use by the library
community
including LCSH (form & genre terms appear, but often do double duty as
subject headings --
LC and others are working on this problem, esp. in light of a new USMARC
subfield, "v"
which allows a term to be expressly identified as form/genre), MeSH (Medical
Subject Headings --
again, form & genre terms are not a primary purpose of MeSH, but can be
recorded in a MeSH string).
There are also a number of specialized lists such as *Guidelines on subject
access to individual
works of fiction, drama, etc.* *AAT: art and architecture thesaurus*
*Moving image materials:
genre terms* and many more that are used by libraries. USMARC offers
subfield 2
in the 6XX variable fields to record a code for the source of the field
(e.g. /2 mim = Moving
image materials). A list of USMARC-recognized sources is available in
USMARC documentation.
This is not a full-fledged answer to your query, but the following item
appeared in the latest AN2 & the URL provides access to info. on some
important
work underway by the American library community (and others?) to addressing
a variety of problems with genre/form access. Hope you'll find it useful.
Eric Childress
OCLC
*****
from:
ISSN: 1056-6694
ALCTS NETWORK NEWS
An electronic publication of the
Association for Library Collections & Technical Services
Volume 12, Number 22
January 27, 1997
FORM/GENRE SUBCOMMITTEE TO LOOK AT TERMINOLOGY IN LIBRARY OPACS
The bibliographic community has expressed considerable interest in
improving the indexing and representation of forms and genres in
library online catalogs. Recent changes to the USMARC format provide
the community with an opportunity to employ form/genre terminology
for the benefit of users as never before. The Library of Congress has
established a Form/Genre Working Group to create an LCSH list of
controlled terms and to write cataloger guidelines. Several thesaurus
developers already have or are in the process of creating controlled
lists of form/genre terms. Many issues (such as system design and
retrospective conversion) remain to be resolved before any
substantive progress can be made.
To improve coordination, communication, and research on form/genre
issues, the ALCTS CCS Subject Analysis Committee established a
Subcommittee on Form Headings/Subdivisions Implementation. As a first
step, the Subcommittee has created a web site where relevant papers
and documentation can be found in one convenient place.
Please check out this web site for more information:
http://www.pitt.edu/~agtaylor/ala/alac.htm
You are also invited to participate in a discussion to take place
during the 1997 ALA Midwinter Meeting. There will be brief
presentations on current status followed by a lively discussion. The
SAC Subcommittee Open Discussion Meeting will be held on Friday,
February 14,8:00-10:00pm, in the Washington Convention Center, Room
8.
-- Josephine Crawford
[log in to unmask]
