While the RDA "creator" element can be mapped to the MARC 1XX field, this mapping breaks down for works involving more than one creator, since the 1XX field is not repeatable. At present, subsequent creators are mapped to MARC 7XX, which is also used for contributors, so they can only be identified by including a (more specific) relationship designator. Consequently, unless a relationship designator has been included in a given MARC 7XX, there is no way to accurately map the data to a record syntax such as Dublin Core or a FRBR-based syntax that routinely distinguishes creators from contributors.
One way around this conundrum would be to bring back a couple of second indicator values that were formerly valid in the 7XX fields. These values distinguished what were then called alternative entries (value=0, definition=added entry can be sub-filed by title [essentially a creator]) from secondary entries (value=1, definition=added entry can be sub-filed by main entry [essentially a contributor]). Restoring these values in MARC 21 Bibliographic would enable us to distinguish creators from contributors without the need to supply a more specific relationship designator in each case. It would also give equivalent status to all creators, which is important if one is looking for all the works of a given creator (rather than those works on which he/she just happens to be named first). Ed Jones Associate Director, Assessment and Technical Services National University Library 9393 Lightwave Avenue San Diego, California 92123-1447 +1 858 541 7920 (voice) +1 858 541 7997 (fax) http://national.academia.edu/EdJones
