----------------------------Original message----------------------------
 
1997 October 3
 
TO:  MAPS-L and AUTOCAT subscribers
FROM:  Ellen Capan
SUBJECT:  OCLC database scan on member-input atlas records
 
The following was recently posted to OCLC*s System News.
 
On September 29, 1997, OCLC ran a scan that converted 28,515 member-input
records for atlases from the Books format to the Maps format.  This is in
addition to the 17,344 LC atlas records converted on September 15th.
 
The scan converted records if they contained an atlas classification number
in field 050 or 090.  If an atlas call number was not present in field 050
or 090, the scan also converted records coded as AACR2 that contained *1
atlas* in field 300.  Records for atlases that have not been converted
should be reported to OCLC for correction.
 
The converted records do not contain all the fields that should be present
in records on the Maps format.  This is because the fields were either not
valid at the time of input or not required in the Books format.  The records
OCLC converted will only contain scale statements and the geographic
classification code (field 052) if they were entered by LC.  OCLC could not
supply this information in a scan.  In addition, OCLC did not supply field
007.  OCLC did supply the optional 006 field to retain the fixed-field
values from the Books format.
 
Records being entered by OCLC users into the WorldCat (OCLC*s Online Union
Catalog) for atlases should be entered on the Maps format.  All mandatory
and required fields for the maps format should be supplied, e.g., fields
007, 052, 034, 255, and 507 (pre-AACR2 only).  For more information on atlas
records see Bibliographic Formats and Standards, FF:73-75.
 
Ellen R. Caplan
OCLC, Inc.
Collections & Technical Services Division
6565 Frantz Rd.
Dublin OH  43017
email:    [log in to unmask]
phone:    800-848-5878
fax:      614-718-7178