[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Using MS Access to create MARC records



Hello!

I was curious as to whether anyone out there has had any success constructing a Microsoft Access database capable of generating MARC records in ASCII or DOS-Text format.  We have gotten several queries about this issue from repositories across New York State.  Most of them have already committed to using Access and would like to contribute MARC records to the Historic Documents Inventory, our online catalog of archival and manuscript collections held by repositories throughout the state.

In and of itself, the process of structuring an Access database to MARC standards does not seem overly difficult.  My predecessor created a database designed to track our work on the HDI, and one of the tables within this database is designed to replicate the MARC records for the repository-level descriptions included in the catalog.  We're still testing this database, but this table seems to work quite well.  Nevertheless, it requires the user to type all of the subfields and pipes.  If possible, I would like to develop a user-friendly version-one that automatically adds the subfields and pipes.  For fields of uniform length and type, input masks will achieve this effect.  However, most fields contain strings of text of varying length.  I've done a few experiments with reports, but I've had only modest success, and I don't have programming skills in Access.

Before I broach the subject with my (very, very busy) IT colleagues, I would like to know of any success stories--or instructive tales of failure.  

Moreover, I'm curious as to how well such a database would work "in the field."  If there is an institution out there that has an Access database designed to emulate MARC, I would like to know whether staff archivists and end-level records users who try to extract information from it find it at least somewhat useful. 

Any comments or suggestions will be most appreciated.  Please feel free to respond to me privately or post your reply to the list.  Thanks!


Bonita L. Weddle
Documentary Heritage Services
New York State Archives
9C71 Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230
(518) 473-4258

A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
      In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
                    *or*:  UNSUB ARCHIVES
To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu

Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html

Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>