MARC Records Distribution Service (MRDS)
This service offers Library and Archives Canada's (LAC) bibliographic and authority records in machine-readable form on an annual subscription basis.
Options
Canadiana monographs (weekly) includes all descriptions for all monographic items (books, videos, CD-ROMs, e-books, etc. ) catalogued by LAC.
Canadiana music and sound recordings (monthly) includes all descriptions for all monographic sound recordings as well as printed music (CDs, DVDs, 45 rpms, printed music) catalogued by LAC.
Canadiana authorities (bi-weekly) includes all personal and corporate names, and uniform title and name-title series authority headings used in the course of LAC cataloguing.
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Method of Distribution
The MARC Records Distribution Service (MRDS) offers Library and Archives Canada's (LAC) records in MARC 21 format via FTP (file transfer protocol) only. Clients are authorized to retrieve the files for one year from the LAC server when they subscribe to a service.
Pricing of Annual Subscriptions*
Canadiana authorities: $610.50
Canadiana monographs: $654.50
Canadiana music and sound recordings: $434.50
*MRDS fees have not changed for several years but they may be changed with little advance notice.
MRDS Contact Information
MARC Records Distribution Service (MRDS)
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0N4
CANADA
Telephone: 819-994-6913
Fax: 819-934-6777
E-mail: mrds@lac-bac.gc.ca
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Retrospective Records
The retrospective files of Canadiana Authorities, Monographs, and Music and Sound Recordings (MSR), up to the end of the previous calendar year, are available from IHS Solutions, the company who assembles the data to create the annual Canadiana CD-ROM:
IHS Solutions Limited
1 Antares Drive, Suite 200
Nepean ON K2E 8C4
CANADA
Telephone: 613-225-2300
Website: www.ihssolutions.com
While permision to use these records must still be sought from Library and Archives Canada, the price for capture and transmission of retrospective data is negotiated directly with the company.
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Other Online Sources
Downloading LAC and Union Catalogue Records
It is possible to retrieve records from LAC's large AMICUS database, including LAC Canadiana cataloguing, Library of Congress and CONSER source files, by using AMICUS Web, Library and Archives Canada's Web service. With an AMICUS Web account (which is free of charge), one can search the database and download the MARC 21 records needed. For more information about AMICUS Web, contact the Client information Centre at: cic@lac-bac.gc.ca
Registered AMICUS clients can also download any of LAC's Canadian Union Catalogue records using the AMICUS Web service free of charge. The service is available online at:
http://amicus.collectionscanada.ca/aaweb/aalogine.htm
Z39.50 Search and Download
If you have Z39.50 client software you can use LAC's large AMICUS database, including LAC's Z39.50 documentation to target the Library and Archives Canada collection or the entire AMICUS database. The Z39.50 search option allows clients to search the database and download records free of charge. Clients need to build a Z39.50 search strategy, learn the MARC 21 format where needed, and convert the records to their in-house system format where required. No LAC's large AMICUS database, including LAC support is provided.
More information on the Z39.50 services is available at:
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/amicus/006002-400-e.html
There is also information about AMICUS at:
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/amicus/index-e.html
Canadian Subject Headings (CSH): This is the LAC's large AMICUS database, including LAC's online database of English-language subject headings on Canadian topics. Once a month the CSH database, with all the new and updated headings used in the past month, is reloaded in its entirety at Library and Archives Canada's Web site. It is available at:
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/csh/index-e.html
Répertoire de vedettes-matières (RVM) is an online database providing French language subject headings. It is offered by Université Laval. All information on product and prices can be found at their website:
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rvm/r19-500-e.html
