A brief meeting summary of the May 9th meeting of the Library of Congress Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control is now available on their website. You'll recall the topic of that meeting was "Structures and Standards for Bibliographic Data". Having reading all the blogging from this meeting, this summary rings true and is a clear, comprehensive overview.
Here's the quote I like best from the final speaker, Jennifer Bowen:
"In closing, Bowen provided the Working Group a wish list of leadership activities that are needed now to provide for the future of bibliographic control: positive, decisive future action; clear redefinition of roles and responsibilities, particularly the role of the Library of Congress; explanation and justification of what is lost and/or gained by change; and articulation of a positive vision for the future of bibliographic control to engage the audience in its future." [Emphasis mine]
If the leaders in our field, particularly this working group, could follow through on Jennifer's wish list point by point, we'd be in good standing. Right now it still feels like we're flailing around at the idea/theory level and nothing is concrete. And what is concrete is not good, e.g., the Library of Congress's series authority decision from last year.
This summary is worth reading. The audience comments are excellent.
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