Plans to improve the quality of book metadata through mutual enhancement of ONIX and KORMARC

Purpose - With the recent expansion of the online environment, the importance of descriptive metadata assisting in a user's purchase and selection has come to the fore. Therefore the publishing circle and libraries began discussions about mutual management in order to minimize common requirements and reiteration of efforts incurred in the process of book metadata creation and distribution. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the ONIX to KORMARC conversion algorithm currently used in Korea and to propose an advanced mechanism capable of mutually assisting and enhancing metadata of both worlds. Design/methodology/approach - The ONDC to KORMARC conversion algorithm used in Korea was analyzed, and ONIX elements which were not used in conversion but considered necessary for KORMARC to accommodate in the future, were extracted; and then a new mechanism which consists of three scenarios was proposed, with which both ONIX and KORMARC could assist in creation and reducing deficiencies of the other. Findings - This study extracted the ONIX descriptive elements that were considered necessary for KORMARC to accommodate in the future and proposals were made for these elements to be mapped in KORMARC. In addition a more advanced mechanism was conceived with which ONIX and KORMARC could help to eliminate any deficiences in the other. Originality/value - The mutual enhancement mechanism proposed in this study will contribute to minimizing reiteration of efforts exerted in production and distribution by providing high-quality book metadata at the right time, to both the publishing circle and libraries.