DeathFlip Records

These records are provided without warranty. Download and use them at your own risk! They work very well with our Innovative Interfaces system's Automated Authority Control Program (AACP) . They may not work with other systems.

The DeathFlip records are miminal authority records intended solely for the purposes of "flipping" old forms of names with open dates to the new forms that include death dates. They have saved us a tremendous amount of manual maintenance. The data for the records comes from OCLC's Closed Dates in Authority Records feed and archive.

NOTE: On June 22 I discovered a problem with most of the files (some non-MARC data mixed in with the MARC) and replaced the files with good ones. I apologize for any incovenience the bad data caused. M.K.

Suggestions for Using the Records

Here is a basic procedure for an Innovative Interfaces system with AACP.

1. Clear your headings reports.
2. Load a DeathFlip file, once as name authorities and once as subject authorities (if you prefer, you can load it one way, finish these steps, then repeat it with the other type of load).
3. Let AACP run overnight.
4. Run the headings reports to see the results. You may limit the reports to the loader's initials so the  DeathFlip results will be separate from other activity. The duplicate record and blind references reports may be unusually large, but this is to be expected and you probably won't have to examine them. Keep in mind that:
   • A record will be listed as a duplicate if you already have a proper authority record for the heading.
   • A record will be listed as a blind reference if you don't have any bib records that match the heading.
5. Delete or suppress the records.
   • If you delete the records, you can always reload them later if you want to fix records that are subsequently added to your catalog but have the old headings. The disadvantage is that you will burn through a lot of record numbers that way.
   • If you suppress the records, you can accomplish the same thing by simply unsuppressing them. The disadvantage is that they clutter up your database a little.

About the MARC Files

The dates in the table below correspond with those on the OCLC pages. The files are listed in order from earliest to latest.

If you want to jump right in, start with the latest base file. When subsequent update files become available, you can download them.

If you want to move more cautiously, start with an update file. You can come back for other files later.

The records are in the traditional Z39.2/ISO2709 format using the MARC-8 character set.

Download the MARC Records

Feedback

If these records are helpful to you, please let me know! If there is enough interest, I'll keep updating this page.

Likewise, please notify me if you notice problems with any of these records.

Just use the "Contact" link at the bottom right side of this page!

Thanks,
Mike