A National Bibliographic Data Base in Machine-Readable Form: Progress and Prospects

LIBRARIANS ARE gaining experience with localized computer systems, they are struggling with the problem of how to integrate the use of MARC data into their technical processing operations, and they are contemplating the intriguing possibilities of a national library network. As they do so, they are becoming increasingly aware of the necessity for converting their retrospective catalog records to machine-readable form which will be the foundation of the complex automated systems that the future requires. This article will address the question of why retrospective conversion is necessary, and it will attempt to show that it is a feasible objective by citing signscant research and recent, continuing large-scale conversion projects. It will explore the means by which retrospective conversion might be accomplished as well as cost and time projections. Emphasis will be placed on the Library of Congress’ current and forthcoming activities in this area because they are of particular significance in the creation of any national bibliographic data base in machine-readable form. Why is retrospective conversion necessary? Most librarians have accepted the idea that conversion of current and future catalog records to machine-readable form is both a desirable and a necessary step in the automation process. Conversion of retrospective records, however, has always appeared to be such a formidable undertaking that few have been willing to face it. The case against retrospective conversion has been made by science and medical libraries on the valid grounds that most of the use of their collections is based on