Expert Advisory Group on Institution specific data
Libraries Australia is interested in developing a new service which will allow libraries to use a localised version of Libraries Australia as a public access catalogue for their collections. To support such a service additional institution specific data (ISD) may need to be added to Australian National Bibliographic Database (ANBD) records and be supported in Libraries Australia services.
ISD may be either optionally shareable data (e.g. subject data created using an institution specific controlled vocabulary) or non-shareable data (e.g. an institution specific URL).
The Libraries Australia Advisory Committee at its meeting in September 2007 recommended that an Expert Advisory Group be established to review Libraries Australia policy on support for institution specific data.
The Final report of the Expert Advisory Group on Institution Specific Data is now available. The report includes recommendations and proposals for the support of ISD in bibliographic records and the implementation of the MARC 21 Holdings Format.
Expanded support for ISD, including support for the use of the MARC21 Holdings Format, will:
- enable libraries to use Libraries Australia as a public catalogue;
- support the development of a Libraries Australia Local service similar to WorldCat Local;
- provide a new option for libraries to contribute holdings to the ANBD in standard MARC21 Holdings format including support for more detailed holdings information; and
- provide support for institution specific Electronic Location and Access data which is currently exchanged and displayed using non-standard 856 fields.
Implementation of support for ISD in bibliographic records and the implementation of the MARC 21 Holdings Format in Libraries Australia will require changes to the configuration of the Cataloguing Service (CBS) and will need to be included as a requirement in the National Library’s redevelopment of the Libraries Australia Search service. Australian libraries will be kept informed as time-frames and plans for implementation are finalised
If you have any questions please contact us.
Terms of Reference
The EAG has the following terms of reference:
- Review Libraries Australia policy regarding support for institution specific data;
- Provide recommendations as to which non-shareable or optionally shareable data elements should be supported in Libraries Australia;
- Provide recommendations as to the format in which these data elements should be exchanged between Libraries Australia and subscriber libraries;
- Provide recommendations as to whether the MARC 21 Holdings Format should be supported for the exchange of holdings data between Libraries Australia and subscriber libraries;
- Provide recommendations on system enhancements which could be made in Libraries Australia to support non-shareable and optionally shareable data.
Membership
The membership of the group is:
- Sue Clarke (Monash University)
- Stephen Dunne (Learning Resources Unit, TAFE, S.A.)
- Paul Pretor (University of Ballarat)
- Russell Varney (Public Library Services, State Library of Queensland)
- Wan Wong (National Library of Australia)
- Bemal Rajapatirana (Libraries Australia)
- Robert Walls (Libraries Australia)
Meetings
The EAG was established in November 2007. Meetings will be held by teleconference.
Minutes
Documentation
LAAC paper on Support for ISD.
Background Paper – Expert Advisory Group on Institution Specific Data (PDF)
EAG Draft recomendations and schema (PDF)
Final report - Final report of the Expert Advisory Group on Institution Specific Data (PDF)

