Contributing Guide

Thank you for your interest in contributing to the MARC Cooperative! This guide will help you understand how to participate effectively in our community.

Before You Begin

Create an Account

To contribute to the MARC Cooperative, you'll need to create a free account. This allows us to track contributions, maintain quality, and recognize contributors for their work.

Understand MARC Records

MARC (MAchine-Readable Cataloging) is the standard format for bibliographic records in libraries. If you're new to MARC, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the basics:

  • MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data (Library of Congress)
  • Common MARC fields and their purposes
  • Cataloging standards like RDA and AACR2

Review Our Standards

The Cooperative maintains quality standards for all records. Before submitting proposals, please review:

  • Required fields for each material type
  • Preferred authority files and controlled vocabularies
  • Formatting conventions

Types of Contributions

Corrections and Enhancements

The most common contributions are improvements to existing records:

  • Typo corrections - Fix spelling errors in titles, authors, etc.
  • Missing data - Add ISBNs, publication dates, page counts
  • Subject headings - Improve subject access with additional headings
  • Authority work - Link names to authority records
  • Classification - Add or correct call numbers

New Records

You can also create entirely new bibliographic records for items not yet in our database. New records require more review to ensure quality, so please:

  • Search thoroughly before creating a new record (avoid duplicates)
  • Include all required fields
  • Follow established cataloging practices
  • Cite your sources when possible

The Proposal Process

1. Find a Work

Browse or search the database to find a record you want to improve, or confirm that a new record is needed.

2. Create a Proposal

Click "Propose Edit" on any work page to create an edit proposal. Your proposal should include:

  • Clear description - Explain what you're changing and why
  • Accurate changes - Make the actual MARC field modifications
  • Sources - Reference authoritative sources when applicable

3. Community Review

Experienced contributors will review your proposal. They may:

  • Approve - Your changes are merged into the canonical record
  • Request changes - Provide feedback for improvements
  • Decline - Explain why the proposal doesn't meet standards

4. Learn and Iterate

Whether your proposal is accepted or not, use the feedback to improve future contributions. The review process is collaborative, not adversarial.

Quality Guidelines

Accuracy

  • Transcribe information exactly as it appears on the item when required
  • Use authoritative sources for information not on the item
  • When uncertain, note your sources and reasoning

Completeness

  • Include all required fields for the material type
  • Add optional fields when the information is readily available
  • Don't leave records incomplete if you can finish them

Consistency

  • Follow established MARC conventions
  • Use controlled vocabularies when available
  • Match the style of existing high-quality records

Contributor Levels

As you contribute more and demonstrate quality work, you'll progress through contributor levels:

New Contributor

All proposals require review by experienced contributors.

Trusted Contributor

After a track record of quality contributions, you may gain the ability to approve certain types of changes.

Reviewer

Experienced contributors who help review and approve proposals from others.

Community Guidelines

All contributors must follow our Code of Conduct. In addition:

  • Be constructive - Provide helpful feedback on proposals
  • Be patient - Everyone is learning, including you
  • Be collaborative - Work together to improve records
  • Be respectful - Disagree on methods, not with people

Getting Help

Stuck or unsure about something? Here's how to get help:

  • Documentation - Check our guides and FAQs
  • Community forums - Ask questions and share knowledge
  • Proposal comments - Reviewers are happy to explain decisions

Recognition

We believe in recognizing the hard work of our contributors:

  • Contribution history - Your public profile shows your work
  • Statistics - Track your accepted proposals and reviews
  • Acknowledgment - Top contributors are recognized on our site

Ready to get started? Create an account and make your first contribution today!

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