RepoCore2

Overview

RepoCore2 is a Dublin Core–based application profile for describing repositories that hold zines: libraries, archives, distros, personal collections, and other institutions or individuals maintaining zine collections.

RepoCore2:

• Describes institutional and individual zine collections.
• Provides standardized identifiers (MARC org codes, ISIL, ROR).
• Supports diverse repository types: academic libraries, independent archives, feminist distros, personal collections.
• Enables directory services and union catalogs.

The RepoCore2 profile is defined using DC Tabular Application Profiles (DC TAP) for machine readability and targets JSON and JSON-LD as primary exchange formats.

Resource Type

RepoCore2 describes instances of the conceptual resource type Repository:

• Class: zine-repo:Repository
• Typical instances: academic libraries, public libraries, independent archives, zine distros, museum collections, personal zine collections

Each repository receives one RepoCore2 description that can be referenced by many HoldingCore2 records.

Element Set

This profile uses:

• Dublin Core Terms (http://purl.org/dc/terms/) for descriptions.
• A RepoCore2 namespace (https://zinecore.org/v2/repo#) for repository-specific properties.

RepoCore2 defines one primary shape:

• repoShape – description of a repository.

RepoCore2 Shape: repoShape

The table below summarizes the properties used for repoShape. Detailed semantics and examples follow.

Cardinality and Constraints (Narrative)

• Required properties (minimal record): id, repository_name, repository_kind, country.
  • id: Internal, stable identifier (e.g., repo_ucb_library, repo_ladyfest_distro).
  • repository_name: Official name (e.g., "UC Berkeley Library", "Ladyfest Distro").
  • repository_kind: MUST use Repository Kinds vocabulary.
  • country: ISO 3166 two-letter code (e.g., "US", "CA", "GB").
• Repository kinds:
  • repository_kind MUST use Repository Kinds vocabulary.
  • Values include: academic-library, public-library, independent-archive, museum, distro, personal-collection, community-archive, special-collection.
  • See Repository Kinds vocabulary.
• Institutional identifiers:
  • marc_org_code is the MARC Organization Code (5-letter code for libraries).
  • isil is the ISO 15511 International Standard Identifier for Libraries and Related Organizations.
  • ror is the Research Organization Registry persistent identifier URL.
  • Use these for institutional repositories to enable crosswalking with library systems.
• Location:
  • city, region, country describe geographic location.
  • country MUST use ISO 3166 two-letter country codes (e.g., "US", "CA", "GB").
  • address provides full mailing address (optional).
• Contact information:
  • website, email, phone provide public contact methods.
  • social_media can include Instagram, Twitter, Mastodon profiles (repeatable).
• Collection scope:
  • description provides an overview of the repository.
  • scope_note describes specializations (e.g., "Focuses on feminist and queer zines from Pacific Northwest").
  • holdings_count is approximate (can be updated periodically).
• Status:
  • established is the year founded (e.g., "1996").
  • status indicates whether repository is active, inactive, or defunct.

Alignment with Standards

Schema.org

Maps to Schema.org organization types:

• repository_kind: academic-library → schema:Library, schema:EducationalOrganization
• repository_kind: distro → schema:Store, schema:Organization
• repository_kind: independent-archive → schema:ArchiveOrganization

BIBFRAME

Maps to BIBFRAME organization model:

• RepoCore2 → bf:Organization
• marc_org_code → Standard identifier property

MARC Organization Codes

Libraries with MARC org codes enable:

• Integration with WorldCat and union catalogs
• ILL (Interlibrary Loan) requests
• Authority control in library systems

Search MARC org codes

ISIL (ISO 15511)

International Standard Identifier for Libraries enables:

• Global unique identification
• Crosswalking between national systems
• Federation of holdings data

ISIL Registration

ROR (Research Organization Registry)

Persistent identifiers for research organizations:

• Used in scholarly publishing
• Crosswalks with Wikidata, Crossref
• Supports research data management

ROR Registry

Example RepoCore2 Descriptions

Example 1: Academic Library

{
  "id": "repo_ucb_library",
  "repository_name": "UC Berkeley Library",
  "repository_kind": "academic-library",
  "description": "University library system with extensive alternative press and zine collections in Special Collections.",
  "scope_note": "Specializes in Bay Area counterculture, feminist zines, and LGBTQ+ publications from 1960s-present.",
  "marc_org_code": "CU",
  "isil": "US-CU",
  "ror": "https://ror.org/01an7q238",
  "city": "Berkeley",
  "region": "CA",
  "country": "US",
  "postal_code": "94720",
  "website": "https://www.lib.berkeley.edu",
  "email": "[email protected]",
  "holdings_count": 2500,
  "established": "1868",
  "status": "active"
}

Example 2: Independent Feminist Distro

{
  "id": "repo_ladyfest_distro",
  "repository_name": "Ladyfest Distro",
  "repository_kind": "distro",
  "alternative_names": ["Ladyfest Records & Zines"],
  "description": "Feminist distro specializing in riot grrrl, queer, and DIY feminist zines. Online and in-person sales.",
  "scope_note": "Curated selection of contemporary feminist zines, with emphasis on intersectional perspectives and zines by BIPOC creators.",
  "city": "Portland",
  "region": "OR",
  "country": "US",
  "website": "https://ladyfestdistro.com",
  "email": "[email protected]",
  "social_media": [
    "https://www.instagram.com/ladyfestdistro",
    "https://twitter.com/ladyfestdistro"
  ],
  "holdings_count": 450,
  "established": "2010",
  "status": "active"
}

Example 3: Independent Zine Archive

{
  "id": "repo_barnard_zine_archive",
  "repository_name": "Barnard Zine Collection",
  "repository_kind": "independent-archive",
  "description": "Digital and physical zine archive at Barnard College focusing on feminist and gender studies zines.",
  "scope_note": "Strengths in second-wave feminism, riot grrrl, and contemporary feminist activism. Includes significant digital archive.",
  "isil": "US-NyBaC",
  "city": "New York",
  "region": "NY",
  "country": "US",
  "website": "https://zines.barnard.edu",
  "email": "[email protected]",
  "holdings_count": 8000,
  "established": "2003",
  "status": "active"
}

Example 4: Personal Collection

{
  "id": "repo_jane_personal_collection",
  "repository_name": "Jane's Zine Collection",
  "repository_kind": "personal-collection",
  "description": "Personal collection of queer and feminist zines from 1990s-present. Available for research by appointment.",
  "scope_note": "Strong collection of Pacific Northwest queer zines, with particular focus on trans and non-binary creators.",
  "city": "Seattle",
  "region": "WA",
  "country": "US",
  "email": "[email protected]",
  "holdings_count": 350,
  "established": "1995",
  "status": "active",
  "notes": ["Available for researchers by appointment", "Interested in donating to institutional archive in future"]
}

Example 5: Defunct Distro (Historical Record)

{
  "id": "repo_chainsaw_records",
  "repository_name": "Chainsaw Records",
  "repository_kind": "distro",
  "alternative_names": ["Chainsaw Zine Distro"],
  "description": "Influential punk and DIY distro active 1997-2012. Collection now held by Barnard Zine Collection.",
  "city": "Oakland",
  "region": "CA",
  "country": "US",
  "established": "1997",
  "status": "defunct",
  "notes": ["Closed 2012", "Collection archived at Barnard", "Historical records available via Internet Archive"]
}

Relationship to HoldingCore2

RepoCore2 records are referenced from HoldingCore2 records:

// RepoCore2 record
{
  "id": "repo_ucb_library",
  "repository_name": "UC Berkeley Library",
  "repository_kind": "academic-library",
  // ... other fields
}

// HoldingCore2 record (references the repo)
{
  "id": "holding_ucb_mutate_3",
  "repository_id": "repo_ucb_library",  // References RepoCore2 id
  "zine_id": "zine_mutate_3_1st",
  "call_number": "ZINE PS3551.R34 M88",
  // ... other fields
}

This enables:

• Directory services: "List all repositories holding zines"
• Location queries: "Which distros are in Portland?"
• Union catalogs: "Show holdings from all repositories for this zine"
• Collection scope: "Find archives specializing in feminist zines"

Union Catalogs and Federated Search

RepoCore2 enables union catalogs that aggregate holdings across multiple repositories:

Query: "Show me all repositories holding Mutate Zine #3"

Results:
- UC Berkeley Library (2 copies: loanable + special collections)
- Barnard Zine Collection (digital access)
- Ladyfest Distro (15 copies for sale)
- Jane's Personal Collection (1 copy, by appointment)

Repository Discovery

RepoCore2 supports repository discovery services:

• By type: "Find all feminist distros"
• By location: "Zine collections in Pacific Northwest"
• By scope: "Archives specializing in queer zines"
• By identifier: "Lookup repository by MARC code"

See Also

• Controlled Vocabularies: Repository Kinds — Library, Archive, Distro, Personal Collection, etc.
• HoldingCore2 Profile — Holdings that reference repositories
• Downloads — Download RepoCore2 JSON Schema and TypeScript types
• MARC Organization Codes — Find institutional identifiers
• ISIL Registration — Register for international library ID
• ROR — Research Organization Registry