The Koha Online Catalog: A Working Definition
In versions of Koha prior to 2.4, the goal with Koha’s MARC support was to get a functioning ILS in place that was capable of storing MARC records correctly. But now we have a more ambitious goal: we want our ILS to be capable of searching the semantic information in MARC records to the fullest extent possible. A secondary goal is to provide easy access from the Online Catalog to resources that extend beyond just the bibliographic records for library holdings.
This Wiki page provides a workspace where Koha developers, cataloging staff, and general staff can post ideas, requests, and questions for how Koha handles searching (and display) of bibliographic records and access to other resources.
Scope
There are many considerations in constructing a working definition of the Koha Catalog. Ultimately, our working definition will consist of individual goals. An example of a goal might be “I want to be able to search for an exact title like “It” for Stephen King, and have it be the first record in the result set”. To realize a given goal, we must define a set of practices in four areas:
Search Indexes
The indexes are where we define:
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how MARC fields should be grouped together as ‘search points’ (eg, ‘author’, ‘date’, ‘exact title’ are search points)
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what kinds of searches we can do on those grouping (eg, ‘number’ search, ‘phrase’ search)
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how to search within certain fields for data (specific positions of fixed fields for instance)
MARC Frameworks
Koha’s MARC Frameworks are where we define:
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what constitutes a MARC record (what fields/subfields)
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labels for each field
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how the fields are handled within the MARC editor
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how the fields should be displayed in search results and details pages
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a mapping between MARC records and Koha’s item management (issues, reserves, circ rules, barcodes, etc.)
Cataloging
Consistant cataloging practices are, together with Frameworks and Indexes, an essential component to searching. Here are some things to think about:
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NPL employs ‘copy-cataloging’, not original cataloging, so records often come from different sources that may have different cataloging practices.
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in areas where no official rule has been made in AACR2 or similar cataloging manuals, Koha will need a consistant practice in order to properly index records
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with over 2000 edit points per record, we need to identify clearly which of those are most important for purposes of search and display
Interface Design
The Koha OPAC is an interface through which patrons and staff construct queries of the data. The interface needs to be fast, accurate, and intuitive to use if it is to be a useful search tool of the library’s collections.
Our task then, is to construct a working set of expectations and definitions of the above. The definitions can then be applied directly to each of the four categories to realize a given search goal.
Discussion Points
Dates
MARC records don’t have a consistant way to distinguish between copyright and publication dates (that I can tell), so we have two date types to think about: copyright/publication, and acquisition. Here are some related MARC fields for each:
copyright/publication dates
008 / 07-10 : generally a primary date associated with the
publication, distribution, etc. of an item and the beginning
date of a collection
008 / 11-14 : secondary date associated with the publication
distribution, etc. of an item and the ending date of a collection.
For books and visual materials, this may be a detailed date which
represents a month and day.
260
362
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Index I propose to index the 008/07-10 field and make that the date field used for date searches
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MARC Framework The framework should require that 008/07-10 be filled with values
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Cataloging We need to make sure that all our records have values in the 008/07-10
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Interface Design What ways do we want to be able to search on dates? in a range, individually?
acquisition date
942$k : stored as yyyymmddhhmmss
Item Types, Circulation Rules, etc.
For the Zebra version of Koha, we’re breaking up the itemtypes into four categories:
1.
collection code (the original itemtype)
2.
audience
3.
content
4.
format
To do this, we are using a combination of several fields in the record to derive each category.
Leader
LDR/06 type of record
FORMAT OF ITEM
MARC Field: 007/1,2 (form of item)
ta = everything else = 'regular print'
tb = LP,LPNF,LP J, LP YA,LP JNF,LP YANF = 'large print'
sd = CDM,AB,JAB,JABN,YAB,YABN,ABN, = 'sound disk'
co = CDR = 'CD-ROM'
vf = AV,AVJ,AVNF,AVJNF = 'VHS'
vd = DVD,DVDN,DVDJ,DVJN = 'DVD'
ss = JAC,YAC,AC,JACN,YACN,ACN = 'sound cassette'
TARGET AUDIENCE
MARC Field: 008/22 (target audience)
a = EASY
b = EASY
c = J,JNF,JAB,JABN,AVJ,AVJNF,JAC,JACN (juvenile)
d = YA,YANF,YAB,YABN,YAC,YACN (young adult)
e = everything else (adult)
j = J,JNF,JAB,JABN,AVJ,AVJNF,JAC,JACN,DVDJ,DVDJN (juvenile)
CONTENT
MARC Field: 008/33,34
normal records:
008 / 33 fiction/non-fiction
008 / 34 biography
(what about mystery ... are they are there any others?)
video recordings: MARC Field 880/33
v = videorecording
008 / 34 l live action
008 / 34 a animation
008 / 34 c animation and live action
sound recordings:
008 / 30-31 a autobiography
b biography
d drama
etc.
AUDIO BOOKS
LDR nim a 00
008/ 30, 31
Guidelines for applying content designators:
Code: Description:
# Item is a music sound recording When # is used, it is followed by
another blank (##).
a Autobiography
b Biography
c Conference proceedings
d Drama
e Essays
f Fiction Fiction includes novels, short stories, etc.
g Reporting Reports of news-worthy events and informative messages
are included in this category.
h History History includes historical narration, etc., that may also
be covered by one of the other codes (e.g., historical poetry).
i Instruction Instructional text includes instructions on how to
accomplish a task, learn an art, etc. (e.g., how to replace a light
switch). Note: Language instruction text is assigned code j.
j Language instruction Language instructional text may include
passages that fall under the definition for one of the other codes
(e.g., language text that includes poetry).
k Comedy Spoken comedy.
l Lectures, speeches Literary text is lectures and/or speeches.
m Memoirs Memoirs are usually autobiographical.
n Not applicable Item is not a sound recording (e.g., printed or
manuscript music).
o Folktales
p Poetry
r Rehearsals Rehearsals are performances of any of a variety of
nonmusical productions.
s Sounds Sounds include nonmusical utterances and vocalizations that
may or may not convey meaning.
t Interviews
z Other Type of literary text for which none of the other defined
codes are appropriate.
| No attempt to code
MUSIC
LDR njm a 00
008 / 30,31 (usually blank)
008 / 18,19 composition form
Guidelines for applying content designators:
Code: Description:
an Anthems
bd Ballads
bt Ballets
bg Bluegrass music
bl Blues
cn Canons and rounds i.e., compositions employing strict imitation
throughout
ct Cantatas
cz Canzonas Instrumental music designated as a canzona.
cr Carols
ca Chaconnes
cs Chance compositions
cp Chansons, polyphonic
cc Chant, Christian
cb Chants, Other
cl Chorale preludes
ch Chorales
cg Concerti grossi
co Concertos
cy Country music
df Dance forms Includes music for individual dances except those that
have separate codes defined: mazurkas, minuets, pavans, polonaises,
and waltzes.
dv Divertimentos, serenades, cassations, divertissements, and notturni
Instrumental music designated as a divertimento, serenade, cassation,
divertissement, or notturno.
ft Fantasias Instrumental music designated as fantasia, fancies,
fantasies, etc.
fm Folk music Includes folk songs, etc.
fg Fugues
gm Gospel music
hy Hymns
jz Jazz
md Madrigals
mr Marches
ms Masses
mz Mazurkas
mi Minuets
mo Motets
mp Motion picture music
mc Musical revues and comedies
mu Multiple forms
nc Nocturnes
nn Not applicable Indicates that form of composition is not applicable
to the item. Used for any item that is a non-music sound recording.
op Operas
or Oratorios
ov Overtures
pt Part-songs
ps Passacaglias Includes all types of ostinato basses.
pm Passion music
pv Pavans
po Polonaises
pp Popular music
pr Preludes
pg Program music
rg Ragtime music
rp Rhapsodies
rq Requiems
ri Ricercars
rc Rock music
rd Rondos
sd Square dance music
sn Sonatas
sg Songs
st Studies and exercises Used only when the work is intended for
teaching purposes (usually entitled Studies, Etudes, etc.).
su Suites
sp Symphonic poems
sy Symphonies
tc Toccatas
ts Trio-sonatas
uu Unknown Indicates that the form of composition of an item is
unknown. Used when the only indication given is the number of
instruments and the medium of performance. No structure or genre is
given, although they may be implied or understood.
vr Variations
wz Waltzes
zz Other Indicates a form of composition for which none of the other
defined codes are appropriate (e.g., villancicos, incidental music,
electronic music, etc.).
| No attempt to code
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Index I propose that the above guidelines be used for indexing a record for its itemtype, format, audience, and content
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MARC Framework The framework should require that the above fields be filled with values
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Cataloging We need to make sure that all our records have appropriate values in the above fields
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Interface Design need to make sure the interface is easy to use
Organization of Materials
This gets tricky. Please keep in mind that I haven’t had any formal library science training and the following is what I’ve gleaned by working with librarians from many different systems. Every library seems to handle these issues differently, but here are some definitions that I hope are universal:
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Collection Code - used to specify circulation rules on a given record or item
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Classification - a taxonomy for organizing a library collection into subjects
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Shelving Location - the general location of an item within the library (general stacks, reference area, new books shelf, science fiction area, etc.)
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Call Number - a standards-based scheme for organization of a given item on the shelf. Typically, the call number is composed of some part of the classification
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Local Call Number - a locally-defined scheme for organizing items on the shelf.
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Item Call Number - an item-specific call number, sometimes used to distinguish between two of the same item on the same shelf. Also used for inventory as a way to specify which shelf a given item is associated with.
Libraries typically simplify the above elements to simplify record maintenance and searching of materials. For instance, NPL currently uses a simplified scheme that consists of the following:
Name Use Composition Location
Item Type general shelving location, circulation rules locally defined 942$c
Call Number shelf order, subject classification from Dewey or locally defined 942$c
For Koha 2.4, we’re proposing to change that scheme slightly to enable better search options in the catalog. Here is the scheme that we’re proposing:
Name Use Composition Location
Classification subject classification Dewey 082
Collection Code (itemtype) circulation rules, general shelving location locally defined 942$c
Call Number shelf order Local Call Number (fiction) or Classification (non-fiction) ?
Local Call Number shelf order NPL’s local call number scheme (
) 942$c
Item Call Number inventory Call Number 952?
Looking forward, we may want to adopt an even more complete scheme such as the following:
Name Use Composition Location
Classification subject classification Dewey 082
Collection Code circulation rules locally defined 942$c
Shelving Location Code location of item (new items, general stacks, mysteries and sci-fi, etc.) locally defined ?
Call Number shelf order Local Call Number (fiction) or Classification (non-fiction) ?
Local Call Number shelf order NPL’s local call number scheme ( ) 942$c
Item Call Number inventory Call Number + some other identifier ?
Here are some additional thoughts on the topic of Material Organization
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There is currently crossover between itemtypes and call numbers but I think we can safely ignore it
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Staff need search and sort by ‘Call Number’. A ‘Call Number Search’ is defined as:
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search Classification
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if not found, search ‘Local Call Number’
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sort of this search point is based on which type of ‘call number’ the search was on
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Sorting by call numbers outside of the context of a call number search will consist of sorting by number first, then by text
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Item Call Numbers are required for inventory
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NPL does not use shelving locations
Display of Records
Here is a list of requests I know about:
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Volume Numbers (245$n) should be included in title display and search
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Subjects should display in a semantically correct way
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