A bibliographical format, which is first of all characterized by considering kinds of documents, which are underrepresented in library cataloging. It follows ISO 2709. It is thus intended for, for example, indexing and abstracting services.

"The users of the CCF on the other hand [compared to MARC], coming from many different backgrounds (some indeed national libraries), would never consider aiming at such a level of homogeneity between records originating in different systems. They have been able to accept that there will be different practices in record creation resulting in records which, when merged into a database, will show their different origins." (Hopkinson, 1996).

 
"Early in its deliberations the Group undertook a comparison of all of the data elements in:

-- the Reference Manual [Martin, 1974; Simmons & Hopkinson, 1992],
-- UNIMARC [IFLA, 1987],
-- ISDS Manual [ISDS, 1983],
-- MEKOF-2 [ICSTI, 1979],
-- ASIDIC/EUSIDIC/ICSU-AB/NFAIS Interchange Specifications [ASIDIC, 1978], and
-- the USSR-US Common Communication Format [USSR, 1978].

With these six standard formats as a guide, the Group identified a small number of data elements which were used by virtually all information-handling communities, including both libraries and abstracting and indexing organizations. These commonly used data elements formed the core of the CCF. A technique was developed to show relationships between bibliographic records, and between elements within bibliographic records. The concept of the record segment was developed and refined, and a method for designating relationships between records, segments, and fields was accepted by the group. The first edition of CCF: The Common Communication Format [UNESCO, 1984] was published in 1984." (Hopkinson, 1996).

 

 

ASIDIC (1978). ASIDIC/EUSIDIC/ICSU-AB/NFAIS. Recommended Interchange Specifications for Computer Readable Bibliographic Data Bases. April 1978.

 
Hopkinson, Alan (1996). The future of communication formats. The Common Communication Format (CCF). http://iodeweb5.vliz.be/oceanteacher/index.php?module=resourcekit&action=content&nodeid=gen11Srv32Nme37%5F670

 

ICSTI (1979). International Centre for Scientific and Technical Information. Communicative Format of Data Recording on Magnetic Tape. International Exchange Format; MEKOF-2. Moscow: International Centre for Scientific and Technical Information.

 
IFLA (1987). International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. UNIMARC Manual. London: IFLA UBCIM Programme.

 

ISDS (1983). International Serials Data System. ISDS Manual. Paris: ISDS International Centre.

 
ISO 2709. (1981). International Organization for Standardisation. Format for Bibliographic Information Interchange on Magnetic Tape. Geneva, ISO, 1981 (ISO 2709-1981).

 

Martin, M. D. (Ed.). (1974). Unesco. UNISIST Reference Manual for Machine-readable Bibliographic Descriptions. Paris: Unesco.

 

Simmons, P. & Hopkinson, A. (eds.). (1992). CCF/B. the common communication format for bibliographic information, and CCF/F: the common communication format for factul information. Unesco.

 

UNESCO (1984). CCF: the Common Communication Format. Paris, UNESCO.

 
USSR (1978). USSR Council of Ministers, State Committee on Science and Technology (and) USSR State Public Library for Science and Technology. Draft Implementation of the USSR-US Common Communication Format. Moscow: 1978.