Task Force on Uniform Resource Identifiers and AACR2

CC:DA/TF/URI/1

March 8, 2001

Charge

Background

At the 2000 Annual Meeting CC:DA was presented with a discussion paper, CC:DA/Attig/2000/1. Section D of that paper presented some options for including provisions in AACR2 for uniform resource identifiers. CC:DA did not have enough time to discuss the paper and the options presented, and decided to continue the discussion at a later time. At the 2001 Midwinter Meeting, the topic of uniform resource identifiers and AACR2 was again discussed, and CC:DA voted to form a task force on this subject.

The Task Force on Uniform Resource Identifiers and AACR2 is charged with but not limited to preparing a report for CC:DA that includes:

1. General background information about resource identifiers in the broadest sense, including what is meant by the terms resource identifier (RI) and uniform resource identifier (URI). This information should include, but is not limited to, what constitutes an RI and URI, what their purpose is, history of their development, the kinds of RIs and URIs already developed and in development, how they are used by various communities, etc.
2. Consideration of the rules as applied in a digital and networked environment. Description and analysis of how other standards (MARC, XML, Dublin Core, EPICS/ONIX, etc.) incorporate resource identifiers in the representation and communication of bibliographic and related information in machine-readable form. Inventory relevant standards, distinguish between structure and content standards, and relate these practices to what AACR2 might do.
3. The importance or value or RIs in bibliographic description and access. Should AACR2 have rules for including information about URIs in AACR2 bibliographic descriptions and/or access points? The Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records and The Logical Structure of the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules should inform this discussion. The Task Force should discuss if and how related bibliographic standards (e.g., ISBD; PCC core records) handle URIs. The Task Force should consider the current and potential role of URIs in both bibliographic and authority records. In considering access, the Task Force should take into account the use of URIs to access both a resource being described as well as related resources. The issues involved in providing multiple URIs for the same resource available at different sites or through different providers, and for different parts or aspects of a resource should also be included.
4. An examination of ways in which AACR2 could include rules for URIs. Specific areas of description that should be considered include, but are not limited to, notes, standard numbers, and the creation of a new ISBD-like area for resource identifiers. For each area, the Task Force should articulate arguments for and against the use of that area. Areas of access that should be considered include, but are not limited to, rules for added entries, related works, and the possible need for special rules or other rules in part II. The Task Force should comment on the issue of change in URIs over time and whether AACR2 might provide instructions for dealing with this.
5. Any rule revision proposals to AACR2 that the Task Force believes should be made by CC:DA and sent to the JSC for incorporation in the rules.

The Task Force shall present an interim report to CC:DA at the 2001 Annual Meeting. The interim report may be presented orally. The final report of the Task Force shall be presented to CC:DA at the Midwinter Meeting in 2002 and shall be sent to the Chair of CC:DA no later than December 16, 2001. If the desired rule revision proposals from task 5 above are substantial enough to require additional time to prepare, the Task Force may submit its final report covering tasks 1-4 by the December 16, 2001 deadline, with a report containing task 5 due by May 15, 2002.

CC:DA/TF/URI/2

March 8, 2001

Roster

Task Force Members

CC:DA/TF/URI/3

January 30, 2002

Final Report

Please note that the purpose of this document is to facilitate the work of the Committee and to provide a means for outreach to both library and non-library cataloging communities. This document is intended for the exclusive use of CC:DA and its cataloging constituencies, and is presented for discussion in the ongoing process of rule revision. Under no circumstances should the information here be copied or re-transmitted without prior consultation with the current Chair of CC:DA.

The report is available in the following formats:

• Word 97/2000 version
• Adobe Acrobat 4.0 version