The MARC Formats: an Overview

American Archivist/Vol. 49, No. I/Winter 1986 21 Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/american-archivist/article-pdf/49/1/21/2747348/aarc_49_1_0h584281l681n4jn.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021

The MARC Formats: An Overview

KATHARINE D. MORTON

Abstract: The USMARC Archival and Manuscripts Control (AMC) format provides archivists with the means to communicate and exchange information about holdings in machine-readable form. This article gives a brief history of the USMARC formats developed by the Library of Congress for bibliographic data and authority records and outlines the basic structure of a MARC record. It explains the role USMARC formats have played in the creation of national and international standards for the exchange of bibliographic information and in the growth of bibliographic utilities. The review process for proposed changes to the formats is described.

About the author: Katharine D. Morton is head of Manuscripts and Archives at Yale University Library. She is a member of the Connecticut State Historical Records Advisory Board and the Archives, Manuscripts, and Special Collections Task Force of the Research Libraries Group. She received an M. A. from the University of Wisconsin, an M.L.S. from Southern Connecticut State University, and a certificate from the Case Western Reserve University Advanced Workshop in University Archives. This article is a revised version of a paper presented at the 48th annual meeting of the Society of American Archivists, 3 September 1984, Washington, D.C. 22 American Archivist/Winter 1986

THE USMARC FORMATS HAVE PER- MARC construction standards, the FORMED a vital function for libraries and pieces of information can be readily iden- other bibliographic agencies as standards tified, retrieved, and manipulated by a for the representation of bibliographic computer in a variety of ways to generate and authority information in machine- a number of desirable products. The Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/american-archivist/article-pdf/49/1/21/2747348/aarc_49_1_0h584281l681n4jn.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 readable form. While the formats were MARC formats are frameworks for com- initially perceived to be of little use to ar- munication, vehicles designed to carry chivists, the situation has changed bibliographic information from one unit dramatically with the introduction of the or agency to another. When a record ap- MARC AMC format, which provides a pears in a MARC format, the agency new vehicle for exchanging and com- knows precisely what it is receiving and municating information about archival what it must do to use that record and the holdings in machine-readable form. To information it contains for its own pur- be understood and used properly, MARC poses. AMC should be placed in the broader In the mid-1960s efforts got underway context of the family of MARC formats. at the Library of Congress to make This article gives a brief history of the cataloging information available na- formats and an explanation of the struc- tionally—not only in hard copy, as had ture of a MARC record. It outlines the been done by the library for many years, role MARC has played in the develop- but also in a machine-readable form that ment of standards and in the growth of could be manipulated by other libraries the bibliographic utilities. Finally, it to meet internal needs. In a pilot project discusses how formats are modified and funded by the Council on Library improved and suggests how archivists Resources, the Library of Congress ex- may participate in this process. A amined the feasibility of distributing bibliography is appended. cataloging data in machine-readable MARC is an acronym for machine- form to sixteen selected user libraries. readable catalog. There are MARC for- These libraries received weekly tapes and mats for seven types of bibliographic tested the utility of the data in a variety of materials: books, serials, maps, visual internal processing applications. The materials, music, archives and manu- MARC pilot project, as it was called, scripts, and machine-readable records. A lasted from January 1966 to June 1968. format focuses on a type of material and This successful experiment led to the identifies the elements necessary to development of a new, improved com- describe that material, both physically munications format for the distribution and intellectually. Since each type of of bibliographic records, MARC II. The material has its own special needs, some MARC Distribution Service was estab- data elements appear in one format but lished as a permanent part of the Library not in others. of Congress in order to expand the The data elements of the MARC distribution of cataloging records on records are like a store of building magnetic tape.' materials, carefully prepared and labeled From its inception, the MARC II for- for future use. When a bibliographic mat was intended as a structure that record is created in conformity with could be used for all types of bibliograph-

'For a description of the project, see Henriette D. Avrams, The MARC Pilot Project: Final Report on a Project Sponsored by the Council on Library Resources (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1968). An Overview 23

ic data. Practical constraints of time and mat could not be tailored to the genera- staffing made it impossible initially to tion of a single product to the detriment identify and analyze data elements for the of others.2 full range of materials. It was decided in- The MARC format for books first ap- Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/american-archivist/article-pdf/49/1/21/2747348/aarc_49_1_0h584281l681n4jn.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 stead to design a format structure that peared in August 1968 under the title would accommodate all types of biblio- Subscriber's Guide to the MARC graphic information and to develop for- Distribution Service.3 MARC formats for mats for each type of material, one at a serials, maps, films, manuscripts, and time, beginning with books. music were published by 1976.4 The prac- Other considerations affected the tice of issuing separate pamphlets for design of the MARC II format. Because each type of material was discontinued in it was a vehicle for the exchange of 1980 when all previous editions were bibliographic information between superceded by a single looseleaf publica- systems with independent computer tion, MARC Formats for Bibliographic facilities, manipulation of the format by Data, which presents the specifications an assortment of electronic data process- for all types of material in an integrated, ing equipment had to be possible. The composite format.4 MARC format was also designed to sup- MARC Formats for Bibliographic port a range of library processing func- Data is updated periodically, and several tions, such as bibliographic display, ac- major updates have recently appeared. quisitions, and information retrieval. It Update number nine contains the MARC was not intended to mandate formats format for machine-readable records. used by any internal processing system; Update number ten includes the visual the assumption was that each system materials format, which is a revised and would devise internal formats to suit its expanded films format that accom- own needs. Since MARC records would modates prints and photographs. This be used to create a variety of products, update also contains the revised MARC including catalog cards, computer output format for manuscripts, called the Ar- microform, bibliographies, displays on a chives and Manuscripts Control (AMC) CRT screen, and accession lists, the for- format. In addition, update ten is a

!For an account of the development of the MARC II format, see Henriette D. Avrams, John F. Knapp, and Lucia J. Rather, The MARC II Formal: A Communications Formal for Bibliographic Data (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1968). 'Library of Congress, MARC Development Office, Subscriber's Guide to the MARC Distribution Ser- vice (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1968). The first, second, and third editions, 1968-1969, appeared under this title. The latest edition, published in 1972, is Books: A MARC Format: Specifications for Magnetic Tapes Containing Catalog Records for Books, 5th ed. "Library of Congress, Information Systems Office, Serials: A MARC Format: Specifications for Magnetic Tapes Containing Catalog Records for Serials, preliminary edition (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1970); Library of Congress, Information Systems Office, Maps: A MARC Format: Specifica- tions for Magnetic Tapes Containing Catalog Records for Maps (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1970); Library of Congress, MARC Development Office, Films: A MARC Format: Specifications for Magnetic Tapes Containing Catalog Records for Motion Pictures, Filmstrips, and Other Pictorial Media Intended for Projection (Washington, D.C: Library of Congress, 1971); Library of Congress, MARC Development Office, Manuscripts: A MARC Format: Specifications for Magnetic Tapes Containing Catalog Records for Single Manuscripts or Manuscript Collections (Washington, D.C: Library of Con- gress, 1973); and Library of Congress, MARC Development Office, Music: A MARC Format: Specifica- tions for Magnetic Tapes Containing Catalog Records for Music Scores and Musical and Non-musical Sound Recordings, draft (Washington, D.C: Library of Congress, 1973). 'Library of Congress, Automated Systems Office, MARC Formats for Bibliographic Data (Washington, D.C: Library of Congress, 1980). 24 American Archivist/Winter 1986

cumulation of all previous formats: designed to accommodate all types of books, serials, maps, music, visual material. This work was a joint project of materials, archives and manuscripts, and the Library of Congress and the South- eastern Association of Research

machine-readable records. The Library Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/american-archivist/article-pdf/49/1/21/2747348/aarc_49_1_0h584281l681n4jn.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 of Congress is also working on a second Libraries. The final draft of the format 8 edition of MARC Formats for Biblio- was issued in February 1985. graphic Data, which will incorporate all The basic elements of a MARC record previous changes and contain additional are the structure, the content designation, introductory material. and the data itself. The structure is the overall framework for the machine- In addition to this family of formats readable record, its container, if you will. for bibliographic records, there is a Since a machine-readable bibliographic MARC format for authority records. record is essentially a string of characters These records specify the correct on magnetic tape or other medium, con- headings to be used for names, subjects, tent designators are necessary to identify or series, based on the A.L.A. Cataloging and to set apart the data elements in the Rules for Author and Title Entries, the record. The data elements can then be Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, manipulated by a range of electronic data and the Library of Congress Subject 6 processing equipment for a variety of Headings. Authority records are vital in processing functions. In the MARC maintaining consistency of entry in a records, the content designators are catalog or data base. If the name of a called tags, indicators, and subfield person or corporate body is entered in a codes. The content of those data elements variety of forms on different occasions, in the MARC record that comprise a those entries will be scattered, and soriie traditional bibliographic record is defined may be overlooked by the patron. by standards outside the formats. These Authority records are kept to lessen such standards may be in the form of inconsistencies; this format provides the manuals, such as the Anglo-American specifications for authority records main- Cataloguing Rules, or identifying tained in machine-readable form. numbers, such as those assigned in the A MARC format has also been devel- National Union Catalog of Manuscript oped for records of holdings and location Collections.9 For example, the MARC information. The existence of a standard format does not specify how to determine format facilitates the exchange of a main entry, just that one is needed. The holdings and location information in content of other data elements that are machine-readable form. This is especially represented by codes in the MARC for- important for holdings information on 7 mat is defined within the USMARC for- serial publications, but the format is mats. There are lists of codes for country

'A.L.A. Cataloging Rules for Author and Title Entries, 2d ed. (Chicago: American Library Association, 1949); Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2d ed. (Chicago: American Library Association, 1978); and Library of Congress, Subject Cataloging Division, Library of Congress Subject Headings, 9th ed. (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1979). There are quarterly and annual supplements to the latter volume. 'Serials are defined in library cataloging terms as publications in any medium issued in successive parts bearing numerical or chronological designations and intended to be continued indefinitely. Newspapers, newsletters, and professional journals are serials. "Copies may be obtained from the Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. 'Library of Congress, Manuscripts Section, National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (Wash- ington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1959/61-). An Overview 25

Variable Fields of MARC Formats for Bibliographic Data Functional Blocks by Tag Number Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/american-archivist/article-pdf/49/1/21/2747348/aarc_49_1_0h584281l681n4jn.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 OOX Control fields OXX Variable fields, general information 1XX Main entry 2XX Title & title paragraph 3XX Physical description 4XX Series notes 5XX Bibliographic notes 6XX Subject entries (name or topical) 7XX Added entries other than subject or series 8XX Series added entries 9XX Local use

Table 1 of publication, geographic areas, and that describe each field in the record. languages, for example, in the appen- This information consists of the tag, or dixes of the MARC Formats for Biblio- numeric identifier of the field; the start- graphic Data. ing character position, or location, of the Structurally, a MARC record consists field within the record; and the length of of three main parts: the leader, the record the field. The record directory makes directory, and the fields. The leader con- possible a random arrangement of fields sists of the first twenty-four characters of on the storage medium and facilitates the the record. It describes the record that addition of new fields to the record. follows and provides the information The fields, the third part of the MARC necessary for the machine-processing of record, organize and contain the basic the record. This information includes the descriptive information. There are eleven total length, type, bibliographic level, functional groups, or blocks, of fields for and status of the record. bibliographic records (see Table I).10 The The second major part, the record length of the fields may vary according to directory, serves as an index to the exact the nature of the data they contain. This location of each field, or section, in the is an important feature, since biblio- record. This directory comprises a series graphic records vary greatly in size. A of fixed-length, twelve-character entries

'"Some of the library terminology used in Table 1 may be unfamiliar to archivists. As the name implies, a main entry is the principal access point under which the bibliographic record is presented, most commonly the name of an author or creating agency. Series notes (400s) and series added entries (800s) are unrelated to record series but instead refer to serial publications such as journals, newspapers, and monographs published as part of a series. The subject entries (600s) and added entries (700s) represent terms in addition to the main entry under which the record is indexed in the data base. These may be names of individuals, names of corporate bodies, topical headings, or geographic names. This table gives only a basic outline of the MARC fields; within each block, scores of fields are identified and defined in the MARC Formats for Bibliographic Data. 26 American Archivist/Winter 1986

three-digit tag, stored in the record direc- The USMARC formats have served as tory, identifies each field. The fields for models for bibliographic exchange for- authority records have the same numeric- mats in other nations. Since the issuance block structure as the bibliographic of the MARC II format by the Library of Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/american-archivist/article-pdf/49/1/21/2747348/aarc_49_1_0h584281l681n4jn.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 records. Because authority records are Congress, over twenty countries have functionally quite distinct from biblio- developed and implemented MARC for- graphic records, the fields are defined mats. Although there are considerable very differently. For example, rather differences in the national MARC for- than main entry, title, and physical mats, virtually all follow the structure of description, the terms "headings," "see the ISO standard. and see also references," and "tracings," The existence of these national MARC are used." formats has necessitated the development The USMARC formats are part of a of an international exchange format for larger network of communication stand- MARC records. UNIMARC, the ards and have played a major role, both acronym for universal MARC, is a for- nationally and internationally, in the mat developed under the auspices of the development of standards for the ex- International Federation of Library change of bibliographic information. Associations.14 Built on the ISO stand- Building largely on the development of ard, UNIMARC provides a vehicle for MARC formats in England and the the exchange of information among United States, the International countries with their own MARC formats. Organization for Standardization With UNIMARC, an agency does not adopted in 1973 a format structure for have to develop conversion programs for the exchange of bibliographic informa- each of the MARC formats its handles. tion from one system to another (ISO The USMARC formats are also linked u 2709). Although not itself a biblio- to work on International Standard graphic format, ISO 2709 provides the Bibliographic Description (ISBD). ISBD outline or framework for the design of is an effort to standardize practices in the operational bibliographic formats, such content and arrangement of a biblio- as the USMARC formats. In the United graphic record. With ISBD, data ele- States, the American National Standards ments in a record can be recognized more Institute (ANSI) has established a stand- easily despite the language of their con- ard (Z39.2) for the structure of a tent. ISBD also facilitates the automated 13 record. Like the ISO standard, it pro- manipulation of the data. UNIMARC in- vides a structure from which any number corporated these standards, and it is of implementations can be designed. hoped that the adoption of ISBD by Thus, USMARC formats are in conform- more countries will increase the ity with both the national and interna- similarities in the records they produce. tional standards for the exchange of in- In the United States, the Library of formation on magnetic tape. Congress has led in the development of

"All of these terms refer to headings or to the record of headings that appear for items in a catalog or an online file. "International Organization for Standardization Documentation, Format for Bibliographic Informa- tion Exchange on Magnetic Tape, ISO 2709-1973. "American National Standards Institute, American National Standard Format for Bibliographic Infor- mation Exchange on Magnetic Tape, ANSI Z 39.2-1971. '"International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, UNIMARC: Universal MARC For- mat, 2d ed. rev. (London: International Federation of Library Associations, 1980). An Overview 27

standards that define the data elements to base so that it can be used by other be included in a record that is shared with libraries as well for derived cataloging. other institutions or contributed to a na- Since the data base reflects the holdings tional data base. Known as the National

of the members, it provides the informa- Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/american-archivist/article-pdf/49/1/21/2747348/aarc_49_1_0h584281l681n4jn.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 Level Bibliographical Record, this basic tion needed for interlibrary loan activity. record is the minimally acceptable Thus growth of the central data base is of MARC record when full cataloging is not primary importance to both technical ser- 15 possible or desirable. vices and public service functions. The USMARC formats have had a sig- In addition to the creation of MARC nificant effect on national and interna- records for recently published materials, tional library activities through the the retrospective conversion of older development of standards. The distribu- bibliographic records to machine- tion of MARC bibliographic records by readable form is highly desirable. For ac- the Library of Congress has had an even quisitions and cataloging, it is useful to greater impact on library technical pro- have records for older titles that are still cessing operations in the United States. actively added to libraries. Online access For recently published materials, catalog- to these records can facilitate interlibrary ing in many libraries is now a process of loan and other public service activities as modifying an existing record for local use well. The Library of Congress's pioneer- rather than creating an original one. ing efforts in retrospective conversion The availability of MARC biblio- greatly expanded the number of MARC graphic records has spurred the growth of records available for distribution. Other regional library networks and biblio- cooperative "recon" projects, such as the graphic utilities such as OCLC (originally CONSER project for serials, have made the Ohio College Library Center, now the significant additions to the pool of shared Online Computer Library Center), RLG MARC records. Manuscript and archival (the Research Libraries Group), and repositories have recently become in- WLN (Washington Library Network). volved in a similar project: three reposi- Each utility acts as a central processing tories have completed the entry of their facility that gathers and transmits biblio- records into the Research Libraries Infor- graphic records for member institutions. mation Network (RLIN) with Title IIC The MARC tapes received from the funding from the Office of Education, Library of Congress are an important and twelve others are currently under- component of the utility's operations. taking retrospective conversion projects The tapes are loaded centrally into the into the same data base with funding utility's data base. A member library from the National Endowment for the locates a bibliographic record in the cen- Humanities and the Pew Trust. tral data base, modifies the record online The MARC formats have greatly to suit its internal needs, and orders facilitated the integration of bibliograph- catalog cards to its specifications from ic information for all types of material in the utility. If the item has not already centralized data bases. While this has ad- been cataloged, the member library vantages for the technical processing of enters the record it creates into the data materials, it has an even greater impact

"Library of Congress, Processing Services, National Level Bibliographic Record (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1980-). NLBR documents based on the MARC books, films, music, maps, and serials formats have been issued, and second editions of each are planned. A document for machine-readable data files is in preparation. 28 American Archivist/Winter 1986

on the use of the materials by the re- Many proposed changes in the MARC searcher. Materials that may have been formats result from particular needs of described in physically separate, un- users or from particular characteristics of familiar, or overlooked files can be certain types of material. The major revi- Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/american-archivist/article-pdf/49/1/21/2747348/aarc_49_1_0h584281l681n4jn.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 retrieved through an integrated approach sion represented by the MARC AMC for- to bibliographic materials, regardless of mat is a prime example of this process. type. Other proposals for change have resulted The extensive use of USMARC for- from a broader analysis of the format mats in a variety of situations has led to and its uses. The Library of Congress the review and modification of the for- sponsored an extensive review of the mats. The Network Development and MARC formats in 1980/81. A detailed list of problem areas within the formats MARC Standards Office of the Library 6 of Congress oversees the review of pro- was prepared for further study.' One posed changes. It is assisted by a such area was mixed format materials— USMARC Advisory Group, which in- items or entities that could logically be cludes the American Library placed in two or more formats. (An ex- Association's Committee on Representa- ample of mixed format material is a map tion in Machine-Readable Form of that is also a serial.) The selection of one Bibliographic Information (MARBI) and format over the other could preclude the representatives of the national libraries, use of data elements that are needed but bibliographic utilities, special library have not been defined as applicable to groups, and others. The Society of that kind of material. The review process American Archivists, through its Com- prompted discussions on the feasibility of mittee on Archival Information Ex- a total integration of all of the biblio- change (CAIE), has been part of the graphic formats created to date and the USMARC Advisory Group since 1983. definition of data elements that could be used in any combination for any type of Institutions using MARC AMC can sub- 7 mit requests for changes to CAIE for material.' recommendation to the MARC Stan- It was clear to those involved in the dards Office. The Cataloging Distribu- review process that a statement of prin- tion Service of the Library of Congress ciples of MARC format content designa- makes available, on a yearly subscription tion was needed before meaningful revi- sion could take place, and a draft docu- basis, a loose-leaf service called 18 USMARC Formats: Proposed Changes. ment was prepared for discussion. Fur- This documents suggested changes, the ther work resulted in the compilation of a process of review, and the final decisions set of underlying principles for the on the USMARC bibliographic, authori- MARC formats, many of which are not ties, and holdings formats. explicitly stated or clearly articulated in the MARC publications." A statement of

"Working under contract with the Library of Congress, David Weisbrod of the Yale University Library Systems Office prepared thorough enumeration of the aspects of the MARC formats that merited review. "John C. Attig, "The Concept of a MARC Format," Information Technology and Libraries 2 (March 1983): 9-17; D. Kaye Gapen, "MARC Format Simplification," Journal of Library Automation 14 (December 1981): 286-292. "Library of Congress, Network Development Office, Principles of MARC Format Content Designa- tion, draft, (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1981). "John C. Attig, "The US/MARC Formats—Underlying Principles," Information Technology and Libraries 1 (June 1982): 169-174. An Overview 29

principles will be included in the forth- Avram, Henriette D. MARC, Its His- coming second edition of the MARC tory and Implications. Washington, Formats for Bibliographic Data. Work D.C.: Library of Congress, 1975.

has continued at the Library of Congress The MARC Pilot Project: Final Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/american-archivist/article-pdf/49/1/21/2747348/aarc_49_1_0h584281l681n4jn.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 on format review, and a format integra- Report on a Project Sponsored by the tion document has been prepared for Council on Library Resources. Wash- discussions with the bibliographic ington, D.C.: Library of Congress, utilities whose members would be af- 1968. fected most directly by substantive RECON Pilot Project: Final modifications to the MARC formats. Report on a Project Sponsored by the The environment in which MARC Library of Congress, the Council on records are used in the United States has Library Resources, Inc., and the U.S. changed dramatically in the past decade. Department of Health, Education, and The one-way distribution of Library of Welfare, Office of Education. Wash- Congress cataloging records that charac- ington, D.C.: Library of Congress, terized the initial use of MARC has been 1972. replaced by an interactive and in- Avram, Henriette D., John F. Knapp, terdependent utilization. Many biblio- and Lucia J. Rather. The MARC II graphic agencies are participating in the Format: A Communications Format creation of MARC records, as well as in for Bibliographic Data. Washington, the exchange of bibliographic informa- D.C.: Library of Congress, 1968. tion in machine-readable form. Now ar- Avram, Henriette D., Sally H. Mc- chivists have the opportunity to use the Callum, and Mary S. Price. MARC AMC format to communicate in- "Organizations Contributing to formation about their holdings in inter- Development of Library Standards." national, national, regional, and local Library Trends 31 (Fall 1982): data bases. They can explore applications 197-223. of the format and share their discoveries Avram, Henriette D., and Sally H. Mc- with colleagues. And they can choose to Callum. "UNIMARC." IFLA Journal participate actively in the process of revi- 8 (1982): 50-54. sion in order to maintain the format as a Crawford, Walt. "Library Standards flexible, functional tool for the archival for Data Structures and Element Iden- community. tification: U.S. MARC in Theory and Practice." Library Trends 31 (Fall 1982): 265-281. APPENDIX Gapen, D. Kaye. "MARC Format Sim- plification." Journal of Library BIBLIOGRAPHY Automation 14 (December 1981): 286-292. Attig, John C. "The Concept of a Hagler, Ronald, and Peter Simmons. MARC Format." Information Tech- The Bibliographic Record and Infor- nology and Libraries 2 (March 1983): mation Technology. Chicago: 9-17. American Library Association, 1982. . "The US/MARC Formats- International Federation of Library Underlying Principles." Reports and Associations. Committee on Catalog- Working Papers, Information Tech- ing. ISBD(M): International Standard nology and Libraries 1 (June 1982): Bibliographic Description for Mono- 169-174. graphic Publications. London: 1974. 30 American Archivist/Winter 1986

ISBD(S): International Standard Bibliographic Description for Serials, Recommended by the Joint Working Group on the International Standard Bibliographic Description for Serials Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/american-archivist/article-pdf/49/1/21/2747348/aarc_49_1_0h584281l681n4jn.pdf by guest on 27 September 2021 Set Up by the IFLA Committee on Cataloging and the IFLA Committee on Serial Publications. London: 1974. International Seminar on the MARC Format and the Exchange of Biblio- graphic Data in Machine Readable Form, Berlin, 1971. The Exchange of Bibliographic Data and the MARC Format. Munchen-Pullach, Berlin: Verlag Dokumentation, 1972. Library of Congress. Automated Sys- tems Office. MARC Formats for Bibliographic Data. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1980. Looseleaf publication with quarterly updates. Library of Congress. RECON Working Task Force. Conversion of Retro- spective Catalog Records to Machine- Readable Form: A Study of the Feasibility of a National Bibliographic Service. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1969. National Aspects of Creating and Using MARC/RECON Records. John C. Rather and Henriette D. Avrams, eds. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1973.