ANNOUNCEMENT

Agreement Signed on MARC21 Development and Maintenance

Ottawa, October 16, 2002  -  On August 16, 2002, in Glasgow, the members of the MARC Harmonization Coordinating Committee (MHCC) completed the signing of an agreement confirming the commitment of the National Library of Canada, the Library of Congress and the British Library to work together on the maintenance and development of the MARC21 format.

This agreement demonstrates the importance of international input to the maintenance of the format, which is used extensively throughout the world; the commitment of these three major libraries to the future of the MARC21; and the joint desire to develop the format in order to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of all its users in a changing information environment.

In May 2001, when announcing the initial agreement on the convergence of MARC21 and UKMARC, representatives of the three libraries highlighted the benefits that it offered. This agreement provides the formal framework for achieving those benefits, including increased effectiveness of services and of access to information across national boundaries.

Let the real work begin!