91´«Ã½

CHICAGO — The Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) and the Library Information Technology Association (LITA), with the support of Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), have created a new joint committee focused on the broad range of metadata standards.

The ALCTS/LITA Metadata Standards Committee has been formed to play an ongoing leadership role in the creation and development of metadata standards for bibliographic information. The committee's expected outcomes include reviewing, evaluating and recommending approval of proposed standards; establishing mechanisms for their continued review (including the monitoring of further development); providing commentary on the content of implementation of standards; and providing opportunities for participation from interested groups.

The Metadata Standards Committee will begin its work at the 2013 91´«Ã½ Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. The membership of the committee is yet to be finalized. However, membership will likely include equal numbers of voting members appointed by ALCTS and LITA and a voting liaison member appointed by RUSA. The committee will actively seek input from many groups and communities of practice in its work.

Having formed this new committee to spearhead participation in developing a wide range of applicable metadata standards, the three 91´«Ã½ divisions have also voted to disband the ALCTS/LITA/RUSA Machine-Readable Bibliographic Information (MARBI) Committee, as of June 30, 2013. After June 2013, the (MAC) is expected to continue to advise the Library of Congress on MARC development. While there will no longer be MARBI involvement with MAC; 91´«Ã½ representatives and liaisons will continue to advise LC about MARC. If a major issue related to MARC requires the attention of an 91´«Ã½ group, the new committee will serve that function. MARC will not be the focus of the new ALCTS/LITA committee.

For the past several decades, MARBI has played a critical role in improving library metadata, particularly the MARC formats. ALCTS, LITA, and RUSA thank all those who have contributed to MARBI’s many accomplishments. We look forward to working with the metadata community broadly in developing and monitoring current and emerging metadata standards.

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