Qubit Import - BCAUL Descriptions

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 * Contents: Purpose | Mapping | Migation issues
 * Document status: draft.
 * Last updated: 7 Nov 2008; incorporated comments by BCAUL administrator.

Purpose
Existing BCAUL can export description records using XML tags that correspond to BCAUL database field names. This document maps the BCAUL fields to analogs in Qubit to support bulk import of the data into Qubit.

Mapping
The following table lists each BCAUL field, a sample of the type of data it contains, the corresponding Qubit field, an indication of whether the data should be migrated or not, and notes/comments/explanations.

Migration issues
This sections notes problems and issues relating to normalizing BCAUL data for import into Qubit.

Dates
 * Normalized date range years need to be extracted from BCAUL Status codes field.

Names
 * Map BCAUL Provenance, Names, and Other names to actor authority records.
 * BCAUL Names is a string containing multiple names, separated by semi-colons; individual names include dates (years); personal names formatted LastName, FirstName.
 * Need a way to extract birth / death dates, then register as event of actor.

Multi-level
 * BCAUL allows 2 levels of description via Part of field (e.g. series linked to fonds).
 * Uses the values from BCAUL Control number field to manage links; this field maps to Qubit description_identifier.
 * In Qubit parent / child link is managed by identifier values in parent_id field.
 * Need way to substitute BCAUL control numbers with Qubit identifiers in Qubit parent_id field.

Repository
 * Map BCAUL Repository to actor and repository records.
 * Get repository data from BCAUL institution records.
 * Preserve BCAUL repository codes to link repositories and descriptions.
 * But replace codes by LAC codes (inter library loan codes)?

Language
 * Need to map / extract from BCAUL Status codes field Symfony language and script codes.

Extent
 * Substitute semi-colons in BCAUL Physical desc. field with paragraph returns to get each extent statement on own line.

Online finding aids
 * Preserve link to institution's own local online finding aid?