Representative Resources: Bibliographic Class

This section discusses several collections of BibClass with particularly representative characteristics. The examples have been selected in part to help describe both the range of characteristics and the "tensions" in the class. The examples include:

  1. University of Michigan Reports (MARC records, extracted, not currently available)
  2. Wing (simple bibliographic information)
  3. and the Michigan Ethnic Directory (opportunities to be had with reference works)

The University of Michigan Reports records were extracted from USMARC records from the UM Library's old library catalog NOTIS system. The records are fairly typical of cataloging in most regards, with a higher than normal degree of authority control and consistency in punctuation. (DLXS makes available an unsupported utility for conversion of USMARC records; for more information on bibliographic record conversion, see Transforming Bibliographic Files.)

The Wing records are more characteristic of scholarly bibliographic citation projects, with, for example, shorter entries and specialized information such as holding libraries. Other brief citation resources in BibClass include the Official Index to the Times (London) (1906-1980) and Palmers Index to the Times (1790-1905).

One of the better examples of an unusual application of the Bibliographic Class is the Michigan Ethnic Directory. Not a "bibliographic" resource at all, the Michigan Ethnic Directory benefits from the relatively small, tight structure of the Bibliographic Class DTD.

The three resources described here (with samples below) help to represent the range to which BibClass has been applied. Some resources such as the Michigan Ethnic Directory have a problematic "fit" with the Class, requiring work to create special filters and add mappings for additional searchable fields, and may perhaps require the creation of a special reference class in the future. At the same time, BibClass capably handles both short citations and longer bibliographic records from online catalogs. This built-in tension will continue to be monitored as DLXS defines and extends its classes.

Appendix: Sample Entries

University of Michigan Reports

UMR Record: Rendered with field labels

Author: Barton, Ben F. (Ben Frederick)
Title: The design of efficient coupling networks / B.F. Barton.
Extent: vi, 42 p. ; ill. ; 28 cm.
Place of publication: [Ann Arbor]:
Publisher: University of Michigan,
Date of publication: [1955]
ID: BAB1034
ID: UMR0270
Availability: Publicly accessible text for non-commercial applications.
Note: "This report was orginally distributed as Technical Report No. 44 by the Electronic Defense Group, Department of Electrical Engineering, the University of Michigan."
Note: University of Michigan. College of Engineering. Industry Program.
Subject: Electronic networks.
URL: http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/u/umr/pageviewer?id=BAB1034

UMR Record: Displayed with encoding

 
<A A="A" ID="BAB1034" DT="2000-08-22"> <B> <K>The design of 
efficient coupling networks / B.F. Barton.</K> <L>Barton, Ben F. 
(Ben Frederick)</L> </B> <D>vi, 42 p. : ; ill. ; ; 28 cm.</D> 
<E> <U>[Ann Arbor]:</U> <T>University of Michigan,</T> 
<YR>[1955]</YR> <W A="NOTIS">BAB1034</W> <W A="CALLNO">
UMR0270</W> <X>Publicly accessible text for non-commercial applications.
</X> </E> <G> <AA>"This report was orginally distributed as 
Technical Report No. 44 by the Electronic Defense Group, Department of 
Electrical Engineering, the University of Michigan."</AA> </G> 
<G> <AA>University of Michigan. College of Engineering. Industry 
Program.</AA> </G> <I2> <SG> <SU A="1">Electronic 
networks.</SU> </SG> </I2> <J> 
<URL>http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/u/umr/pageviewer?id=BAB1034</URL> 
</J> </A>

Wing

Wing Record: Rendered with field labels

Author: Powell, Thomas, 1572?-1635?
Title: Mr. Powels answer to a late fictitious pamphlet . . . Quakers
Alternate title: answer to a late fictitious pamphlet . . . Quakers
Place of publication: London
Wing number: P3067B.
Publisher: Printed
Year: 1676
Note: quarto [fewer than 50 pages]
Note: This item also described in Arber, Edward, ed. The Term Catalogues, 1668-1709 A.D. London: privately printed; 1903-1906. vol. 1. p. 256
Holdings:
  • Bodleian Library, Oxford, Eng.
  • Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, Calif., U.S.

Wing Record: Displayed with encoding

 
<A ID="WING305358" DT="19990407"> <B> <K>Mr. Powels answer to a late
fictitious pamphlet . . . Quakers</K> <K A="alternate">answer to a late 
fictitious pamphlet . . . Quakers</K> <L>Powell, Thomas, 1572?-1635?</L> 
</B> <E> <U>London</U> <W A="Wing">P3067B</W> <T>Printed</T> 
<YR>1676</YR> </E> <G> <AA A="format"><P>quarto [fewer than 50 
pages]</P></AA> <AA A="reference"><P>This item also described in Arber, 
Edward, ed. The Term Catalogues, 1668-1709 A.D. London: privately printed; 1903-1906. 
vol. 1. p. 256</P></AA> </G> <J> <LOC>Bodleian Library, Oxford, 
Eng.</LOC> <LOC>Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, Calif., U.S.</LOC> 
</J> </A> 

Michigan Ethnic Directory

Michigan Ethnic Directory Record: Rendered with field labels

Organization: Cuban Festival Dancers
Address: 695 Crawford Street
Detroit, MI 48209
Ethnicity: Cuban (also see Hispanic)
Type: Fine, Folk, and Performing Arts Organizations

Michigan Ethnic Directory Record: Displayed with encoding

 
<A ID="ethnic01" DT="1"> <B> <K>Cuban Festival Dancers</K>
</B> <E> <V> <VV> <ST>695 Crawford Street</ST> <ST>Detroit,
MI 48209</ST> </VV> </V> </E> <I2> <KW A="eth"> <AF>Cuban
(also see: Hispanic)</AF> </KW> <KW A="org"> <AF>Fine, Folk, and
Performing Arts Organizations</AF> </KW> </I2> </A>