Re: Laundry list for NGC

I think this exchange points up the fallacy that
we'll be able to specify an "ideal" identifier.
My suspicion is that instead we'll have to come
up with a multi-pronged approach whereby whatever
identifying numbers we have available are used,
and the identification systems themselves are
part of the deal and specified unambiguously.  So
I think we might stop searching for something
that is the all encompassing "standard" and
settle for a number with it's numbering system
identified. It's likely that we'll be dealing
with "de facto" standards for a long time to come.

Diane

>Except for the ISBN, the UPC/EAN code isn't always stored in
>bibliographic records created in the US. The numbers that are stored for
>CDs are the publisher numbers ("Philips 422 416-2") and they are not
>entered in a consistent format, unfortunately. UPC/EANs do seem to be
>showing up on newer CD records. So getting a link to CDs is going to
>take some thought. (I looked on Amazon, and CDs seem to be identified
>only by the ASIN, which Amazon assigns when there isn't another reliable
>identifier.)
>
>I imagine that DVDs will be equally difficult.
>
>kc
>
>Lynn Reynish wrote:
>>Hmmmm.... UPC/EAN-code may indeed be an alternative. It would certainly
>>be no worse than an ISBN.
>>
>>Lynn
>>
>>Anders Ringnér wrote:
>>>From: "Lynn Reynish" <lreynish <at> RPL.REGINA.SK.CA>
>>>>This does sound like a great project. However, I will note that ISBN is
>>>>probably not enough if you want to include CDs and DVDs - most of which
>>>>don't have ISBNs. Amazon uses an ASIN for these items but I'm not
>>>>sure if
>>>>there are any widespread standard numbers in use for CDs or DVDs
>>>>outside
>>>>of mainstream Western classical/pop/rock music (which often has a music
>>>>number). ISBNs have their own problems of course - but at least they
>>>>exist
>>>>for a lot of items.
>>>
>>>Would using the UPC/EAN-code be an alternative? If we then converted all
>>>ISBN-10 to ISBN-13, which in fact is identical to the EAN, we'd end up
>>>with
>>>the same style of numbers for all objects, regardless of format (book,
>>>CD,
>>>DVD and so on). All pictures would be stored by their EAN-code.
>>>
>>>/Anders
>>
>>--
>>Lynn Reynish
>>ILS Librarian
>>Regina Public Library
>>lreynish <at> reginalibrary.ca
>>
>
>--
>-----------------------------------
>Karen Coyle / Digital Library Consultant
>kcoyle <at> kcoyle.net http://www.kcoyle.net
>ph.: 510-540-7596
>fx.: 510-848-3913
>mo.: 510-435-8234
>------------------------------------

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Diane I. Hillmann
Research Librarian
Cornell University Library
Email: dih1 <at> cornell.edu
Voice: (607) 387-9207
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