Assessing Information on the Internet: Toward Providing Library Services for Computer-Mediated Communication. A Final Report

Abstract

The Online Computer Library Center Internet Resource project focused on the nature of electronic textual information available through remote access using the Internet and the problems associated with creating machine-readable cataloging (MARC) records for these objects using current USMARC format for computer files and "Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, Second Edition" (AACR2). Internet users gain access to files using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (electronic mail). During the time of this study, the number of FTP sites increased 25%; the number of files, 46%; and the amount of storage, 63%. Descriptive information associated with these files is scant. Source code and system code combined account for 43% of files and 49% of storage, while text files account for 10% of files and 8% of storage; other categories include news, personal computer programs, data files, computer images, computer games, and executable program files. A test of the USMARC format for computer files and the AACR2 rules revealed that some extensions are necessary to accommodate remotely accessed electronic objects. A new MARC field, electronic location and access, is proposed. Draft cataloging guidelines to assist in the application of existing rules are offered. Twelve figures and 18 tables present study findings. Five appendixes include additional information about Internet and a 410-item annotated bibliography. (SLD)