Campus News

EISI brings MARC Workshop to University of the Immaculate Conception, Davao City

To keep abreast with the latest trend in Philippine Library Automation, the Electronic Information Solutions Inc. (EISI), in cooperation with the University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC), conducted a two-day seminar-workshop on MARC21 Reloaded (Machine Readable Cataloging in the 21st Century) last November 27-28, 2009 at the Main Internet Laboratory, University of the Immaculate Conception, Fr. Selga Street, Davao City.

This Workshop aimed to arm Information Specialists with skills to catalog library materials using MARC format, and to create MARC records using inexpensive pre-processing software, so that the library's MARC database becomes ready for automation. Using the appropriate software, the Information Specialist can produce card catalogs at the same time they create the MARC records, making the transition from printed to electronic records easier.

The workshop started with an invocation by the (EISI) Customer Service Supervisor, Ms. Zenaida F. Abragan, and followed by the National Anthem. To formally start the seminar, the University of the Immaculate Conception Director of Libraries, S. Ma. Bernardita L. Robles, RVM, gave some words of welcome as opening remarks.

The Trainer/ Guest Speaker of said seminar-workshop was the De La Salle - Dasmariñas Director of Libraries, Mrs. Sonia M. Gementiza. She was introduced by the Sales Manager of Electronic Information Solutions, Inc., Mr. Axel G. Cabarles.

On the first day of seminar. Mrs Gementiza talked first about RDA (Resource Description Access) which is a new content standard for resource description and access designed for the digital environment.

The purpose of this RDA is to enable users of library catalogs, etc. to find and use resources appropriate to their information needs. It Supports FRBR user tasks (ie. Find, identify, select, obtain). Extend beyond FRBR user tasks (ie. Use resources and Manage collections). This is a new standard that will be the successor of AACR2. (Anglo- American Cataloging Rules 2)

The vision of RDA are as follows: 1. Easy to use and interpret; 2. Operates in an online, Web-based environment; 3. Applies to all types of media: analog and digital; 4. Compatible with other standards for resource description and retrieval; 5. Useful and used beyond the library community; 6. Useful and used world-wide (but derived from English language conventions and customs); and 7. Principle-based.

The Trainer/ Guest Speaker gave emphasis on the topic “MARC21” (Machine Readable Cataloging in the 21st Century.) since it was the main topic of the seminar-workshop. This topic deals with what the Information Specialist, using a library automation system, will see and need to understand on their computer screens when adding, editing, or examining records. The emphasis will be on those areas commonly used in cataloging for schools and small public libraries, i.e. books and audio-visual materials.

This is the EISI’s eighth edition of MARC21 Workshop Reloaded series featuring two kinds of MARC21 Format: the Bibliographic one that is designed to be a carrier for bibliographic information about printed and manuscript textual materials, computer files, maps, music, continuing resources, visual materials, as well as mixed materials; and Authority that defines the codes and conventions such as tags, indicators, subfield codes, and coded values that identify the data elements in MARC authority records.

On the second day of seminar, another Trainer/ Guest Speaker, the Technical Supervisor of Electronic Information Solutions, Inc., Mr. Pedro O. Tabinas talked about the introduction to copy cataloging and pre-processing software. The purpose of this copy cataloging is to have uniformity of subject headings on the different instructional materials in every library be it print or non-print.

Hands-on activity, as application of the theory, took place on the second day of the workshop. Questions and clarifications were asked by various zealous participants from all over the country during the said activity.

It was participated in by professionals of the different Schools, Colleges and Universities from all over the Philippines. Among them were from:

1. Adiong Memorial Polytechnic State College -Lanao del Sur;
2. AMA Computer College -Cotabato;
3. Ateneo de Davao University -Davao City;
4. Ateneo de Naga University -Naga, Bicol;
5. Bicol College -Albay Bicol;
6. Brokenshire College -Davao City;
7. Cebu Doctor’s University -Cebu;
8. Central Mindanao Colleges -Kidapawan;
9. Davao Christian High School -Davao City;
10. Davao del Norte State College -Panabo City;
11. Lourdes College -Cagayan de Oro;
12. Notre Dame of Kidapawan College -Kidapawan;
13. Notre Dame of Midsayap -Cotabato;
14. Philippine Carabao Center -Nueva Ecija;
15. Siliman University -Dumaguete;
16. University of Mindanao -Tagum City;
17. University of San Jose Recoletos -Cebu;
18. University of the Philippines -Diliman, Quezon City;
19. Xavier University -Cagayan de Oro; and
20. University of the Immaculate Conception -Davao City (Host Institution)

Information Specialists were equipped with updated information to keep track of the breakthrough technology to update them professionally and to render best service to community through access to the library and its resources.