Please excuse duplication; We don't want to harass you, but we'd hate to
overlook you!

The LITA/ACLTS MARC Formats Interest Group (MFIG) will meet during ALA
Midwinter in Seattle.

Time:  Saturday, January 20, 2007

Place:  Sheraton Seattle Hotel Grand BR A

Topic:   MARC21:  Going Strong, or So Long?

Our three speakers are:  you, you, and You!

There have been many discussions about the future of MARC 21.  Some say
it's dead, or, at the very least, on life-support.   What do you, those
with a vested interested, think we can do to resuscitate MARC21, or do
we note on its chart:  DNR?

Discussion questions:

1.  MARC21 has survived through its first half decade of the 21st
century.   Do you think that MARC21 will still be alive and well at the
end of this decade?   Why or why not?

2.      Fixing the Fixed Fields:  Fixed-length fields made sense when
there were character length limits in records and limits to the number
of variable length fields in a record.   Do we still need fixed-length
fields?  If so, for which type of data?  Are there ways to make
fixed-length fields more usable?

3.      Streamlining the cataloging processes:  New efforts to
streamline cataloging, such as the new CONSER Standard Record, are
looking at ways to reduce the number of required fields in a
bibliographic record and to eliminate redundancy.   What are some of the
implications for the MARC21 Bibliographic Format, particularly if this
trend expands beyond serials cataloging?

4.      Ingested Data:  A Tasty Treat or Indigestion?  Some of the
discussions concerning the proposed new cataloging code, Resource,
Description, and Access (RDA) are assuming that content creators will
provide metadata that can be ingested for use in creating bibliographic
or authority records.   Where does MARC21 fit into this scenario?   Are
content creators aware of MARC21, or do they think he's some guy with a
funky bunch?

5.     Wishin' and Hopin' and Thinkin':  If you could change one thing
about MARC 21, what would you change?

Break the "three-speakers" pattern and share your thoughts on these
topics with your colleagues.  Come join us and help create a lively
discussion!

Chair:  Gene Dickerson, Lead Librarian for Cataloging, Ralph J. Bunche
Library, U.S. Dept. of State.

Vice-Chair/Chair Elect:  Naomi Young, Principal Serials Cataloger,
Cataloging & Metadata Dept., University of Florida

Naomi K. Young
Principal Serials Cataloger
Cataloging & Metadata Dept.
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-7007
(352) 392-0355 ext 234
naomi@uflib.ufl.edu