Use of Machine Readable Cataloging Standard in University Libraries of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Machine Readable Cataloguing (MARC) is the adoption of Manual Catalogue into machine-based system. In 1960, Use of computers for cataloguing purpose began. MARC I, MARC II, Universal Machine Readable Cataloguing - UNIMARC and MARC 21 are some of the versions in MARC. UNIMARC was developed by International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and MARC 21 was developed by Library of Congress. KOHA is an Open Source Integrated Library Management System that was used in 12 University libraries out of 19. 5 university libraries used Commercial Integrated Library Management systems and 2 other Higher Educational Institutions planned to automate their libraries. Making union catalogue will be a difficult task because not having unity with OPAC among the University Libraries that is the major problem of the research. The objective of the study was to identify the use of MARC Standard in University Libraries of Sri Lanka. Survey design was the study method. Simple Random Sample was used for the sample. 5 out of 15 University Libraries were selected such as University of Colombo, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Kelaniya, University of Moratuwa, Visual, and Performance Art University. A structured questionnaire delivered for 5 University Librarians. For 15 Senior Assistant Librarians, 10 Assistant Librarians, 5 for those engaged in the catalogue using MARC and 25 Library Assistants for obtaining the primary data. In addition, discussions, interviews, observation and searching Online Public Access Catalogues were applied for primary data collection. 56 out of 60 in the sample were responded for the questionnaires. Out of 5 University libraries which are selected, 3 university libraries use KOHA; the other libraries use ALICE FOR WINDOWS and LIBSYS. Library using KOHA adopt MARC 21 on rudimentary basis while other libraries apply their own inbuilt standard based on the Library Software. It was identified that there was no proper MARC standard followed as well as no proper levels applied seen as according to the searching the OPAC and the questionnaires. Only 07 fields of MARC have been used for automation by University Libraries commonly. The MARC fields were LEADER (000), MAIN ENTRY-PERSONAL NAME (100), TITLE STATEMENT (245), PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, and ETC. (IMPRINT) (260), ADDED ENTRY ELEMENTS (KOHA) (942), KOHA FULL CALL NUMBER (952$o) and BARCODE (952$p). Other MARC fields have been used differently in their library automation software of automation. 80% of the staff endorsed that proper MARC standard system should be introduced for the use of university libraries. It is proposed a Uniform MARC standard system should be established under library professional institutes and library organization, Sri Lanka. Therefore, National Library and Documentation Services Board, Sri Lanka Library Association and University Library Association should and concerned library experts in the field should take the lead.