Universal Bibliographic Control (UBC)
Context
Universal Bibliographic Control (UBC) is an IFLA global initiative led by the Bibliography Section enabling international exchange of bibliographic metadata for the benefit of the national bibliographic and cataloguing agencies and the whole library field.
The IFLA Professional Statement on Universal Bibliographic Control (UBC Statement) published by the Bibliography Section dates back to 2012. The UBC principles need to be brought to the forefront again, and its ground rules updated to align with the new context and the most recent developments in technology and bibliographic standards.
General purpose and objectives
The UBC Working Group is convened with the primary aim of reviewing the UBC Statement, with the expected deliverable being a published updated Statement, approved by relevant stakeholders inside (and outside) the library field.
Related objectives:
- Build expertise: cultivate in-depth knowledge of UBC
- Identify rationale: scrutinize the existing rationale behind the UBC Statement, seeking clarity on its purpose, scope and relevance today
- Revision: through thorough examination, pinpoint parts of the UBC Statement requiring revision or update and proceed to the revision
- Guidelines: assess the need for supplementary guidelines to facilitate practical application of the UBC principles
- Positioning: analyze the UBC declaration’s position within the constellation of IFLA standards, evaluating its relationship with other relevant standards and guidelines
Membership
The UBC Working Group is made up of members from the following sections: Bibliography, Cataloguing, National Libraries and Subject Analysis and Access sections, as well as the Advisory Committee on Standards.
Terms of office
The working group is expected to finalize the revision mandate in the summer 2024. The revision (with consultation and worldwide review) will then take place over a one-year period. The Bibliography Section could extend the UBC Working Group’s term if new objectives arise from the revised Statement.