BIBCO procedures
Summary: Steps for submitting BIBCO records for changes or enhancements, with the help of BIBCO independent catalogers. Also, steps for original catalogers to engage in review for becoming BIBCO independent.
BIBCO background
BIBCO is the Monographic Bibliographic Record Cooperative Program of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC). It sets standards and best practices for creating high quality monographic records. "BIBCO participants contribute bibliographic records to shared international databases, meeting or exceeding BIBCO Standard Record requirements. BIBCO records include access points backed by complete authority work, both descriptive and subject."
BIBCO maintains the BIBCO Standard Record, the BIBCO Participants' Manual, and other documentation at the program website.
- BIBCO records are identified by the presence of the MARC 042 field with value "pcc". BIBCO records can be authenticated on all WorldCat workforms except for Continuing Resources (which can be authenticated as CONSER, instead).
- Only catalogers with a National Enhance OCLC login can make edits to BIBCO records in WorldCat, with the exception of fields outlined in Section 5.2.3 of OCLC's Quality Assurance documentation.
- MSU Libraries is a BIBCO independent institution; we can authenticate BIBCO records and make edits per procedures outlined below.
Editing existing BIBCO records
Existing BIBCO records have these characteristics:
- ELvl: blank
- Srce: c or blank
- 042: pcc
- Candidate records:
- May have typos or incorrect data
- Could benefit from RDA hybridization (e.g. adding 33X fields)
- Could benefit from additional fields that add value (e.g. genre terms for literature)
- May need access points updated due to authority work
- For records with straightforward changes (e.g. typos):
- Alert the BIBCO team via the BIBCO chat in Teams (email nicole@msu.edu to be added)
- Include description of simple change needed and OCLC number of the record
- Alert the BIBCO team via the BIBCO chat in Teams (email nicole@msu.edu to be added)
- For more substantive changes:
- Option A: make changes yourself and submit to BIBCO team
- Make changes to the record in Connexion
- Save to online save file (Action / Save Record to Online File); note the online save file number assigned once you save
- Report online save file number of the record to BIBCO team via the BIBCO chat in Teams
- Retain item at desk
- Option B: suggest changes and submit to BIBCO team
- Write a description of potential changes needed
- Submit write-up and OCLC number to BIBCO team via the BIBCO chat in Teams
- Option A: make changes yourself and submit to BIBCO team
Becoming BIBCO independent
- Since MSUL is a BIBCO independent institution, we can internally review our catalogers to become BIBCO independent themselves
- BIBCO independence entails one to an OCLC National Enhance login and the ability to authenticate BIBCO records and make changes to existing BIBCO records
- Review for BIBCO independence is open to original catalogers
- To initiate review
- Confirm your intentions with the Head of Cataloging
- Review BIBCO introduction materials
- Review BIBCO Participant's Manual
- Review BIBCO Standard Record Metadata Application Profile (BSR MAP)
- You will be assigned to review by the BIBCO team, for review by the team or by an individual
- You will be expected to submit at least 12 records for review over a limited period of time; records should vary in character and in scenarios for application of catalogers judgment
- Records will be reviewed for needed corrections and points of conversation; reviewer(s) will provide feedback, as appropriate
- Areas of catalogers judgment during review will be addressed in subjective terms, to weigh factors in various options for treatment
- Once records are ready for authentication or updating, the reviewer(s) will assist in WorldCat with their National Enhance login
- Recurring patterns of error will extend the review period
- All access points will require full authority records, to be separately reviewed by the appropriate NACO Coordinator
- Call numbers in 050 can be constructed to conform to LC shelflisting, as a matter of exercise; if local shelflisting is needed, distinct from LC, include also an appropriate 090
- Submit records to the online save file; alert the BIBCO team via the BIBCO chat on Teams
- Reviewer(s) have the discretion to continue review or confer independence
- Once a reviewer confers independence, they will inform the BIBCO lead at LC and inform OCLC of the need to either create a new National Enhance login, or convert the cataloger's existing login to National Enhance
- Catalogers to whom independence is conferred:
- may join the BIBCO team and are eligible to serve as internal BIBCO reviewers
- should subscribe to the listservs PCC list and BIBCO list as described here: https://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/discussion.html
- are expected to have at least 12 BIBCO transactions in WorldCat each year (inclusive of new authentications and updates to existing records)
- will be trained in tracking statistics on a shared spreadsheet
Contact | Joshua Barton |
Team | Cataloging & Metadata Services |
Updated | May 2025 |
Created | May 2025 |