Overview: This post lists a set of steps that can transform MARC metadata into the GeoBlacklight Metadata schema. The process involves changing a .mrc file into a .csv file. It also shows how to access the Math Tool in MarcEdit that will transform coordinates in the 034 field from degrees-minutes-seconds into decimal degrees.
Tools Required: MarcEdit, Spreadsheet editor
1. Obtain the MARC metadata as a single file in the .mrc format. (MARCXML works too.)
2. Open MarcEdit and select the icon called MarcEditor.
3. Go to File-Open: select the .mrc file.
Tools Required: MarcEdit, Spreadsheet editor
1. Obtain the MARC metadata as a single file in the .mrc format. (MARCXML works too.)
2. Open MarcEdit and select the icon called MarcEditor.
3. Go to File-Open: select the .mrc file.
4. If you need to convert the coordinates in the 034 field from degrees-minutes-seconds, go to Edit-Edit Shortcuts-Math Functions-Convert To Decimal Degrees. (Otherwise, skip to step 5)
If your coordinates have been entered using the standard d,e,f,g part of the 034 field, accept the defaults.
Review the results:
Before:
After:
Go to File-Save As to save your work as another .mrc file.
5. Review which fields in MARC you want to crosswalk. Make a list of the code names.
6. Close out the editor view.
7. In the main dashboard view for MarcEdit, click on the top dropdown caret next to Tools.
8. Go to Export Records - Export Tab Delimited Records
9. Open the file you want to convert in the MARC File: box. Type in the name for the CSV file in the Save File: box.
10. Manually type in the box after the word Field:. Add the field number that you need exported to the spreadsheet. Click the plus sign to add the field to the list.
11. Click "Process."
12. Open the CSV in a spreadsheet editor and rename the fields to the intended crosswalks.
13. The coordinate field needs to be adjusted so that the coordinates are separated by comma. Plus signs("+") should be deleted, but minus signs ("-") should remain. Extraneous text like "a" or "bound" should also be deleted.
The order of the coordinates needs to be changed. MARC records them in the order W,E,N,S. The plugin for Omeka needs the coordinates as W,S,E,N.
Example:
| a-021.0800-168.0300+078.2000-043.0600bound |
becomes
| -021.0800,-043.0600,-168.0300,078.2000 |
14. Other columns may need to be edited as per your requirements, but the spreadsheet can now be imported to Omeka with the CSV import plugin tool.