Music Discovery Requirements and formats: Setting up facets in Blacklight Chris Holden Assistant Music Librarian, East Carolina University 3/4/16

What is a format? Musical works tend to be in multiple content types (score, sound recording, video, etc.) These content types can be manifested in multiple carriers o A sound recording can be an LP, a cassette, a CD, or an MP3 file. Patrons tend to search for items both by content type and by carrier.

What does the MDR say about format? Users need to be able to find, identify, and select the form of information they need. They need facets and limits that enable selection of content types, such as sound recording or video recording… …as well as selection of a specific carrier, such as audiocassette, compact disc, LP, streaming sound, DVD, etc. Therefore, systems must allow a single record to be assigned multiple content types/carriers, or for content types/carriers to be grouped together for patron interfaces. For example, an item must be able to be both a “sound recording” and a “CD.” Allowing multiple content types/carriers also is important for packages with accompanying material, such as score/CD combinations.

What does the MDR say about format? The MDR instructs us to: o 1) Allow the mapping of multiple formats to a single bibliographic record o 2) Allow users to search both by content type and by carrier. o 3) Provide for items with accompanying material (e.g., score +CD should be assigned to both formats) Appendix C gives the detailed breakdown of MARC format mappings.

Previous problems with formats OPAC could only map one format to each item. System could not take into account the fact that a single record may contain multiple formats. “Format” was mapped to ILS-specific item type, not the MARC record.

Previous problems with formats

OPAC had no good way to search by content type. An item’s format could be “sound recording” or “electronic,” but not both. Online audio was “electronic,” so any search for all “sound recording” formats would not bring up streaming audio files.

Blacklight’s format solutions Blacklight allowed us to assign multiple formats to a single resource. This solved the multiple carrier issue. o A score that came with a CD could be connected to both facets, allowing for a patron to limit by either format and still find it. This also helped with the content type/carrier distinction

Problems with Blacklight formats Format facet was based off of the MARC record, rather than a proprietary item type. o Most formats based on the Leader field, the 007 field, and the 006 field for records with multiple formats. These MARC fields were not always the most up-to- date, and many required cleanup.

Problems with Blacklight formats LPs appearing as globes. DVDs appearing as laserdiscs. Lots of 006 fields to be added for records with multiple formats. Work still to be done in refining the format facet. o Debate over the inclusion of content types and carriers in the same facet category.

Thank you! Christopher Holden Assistant Music Librarian East Carolina University