Balisage Paper: The Library of Congress Recommended Format Specifications

Abstract

The “Library of Congress Recommended Format Specifications” describes formats which it will collect to ensure the preservation and long-term access of the creative output of the nation and the world. The specification covers textual works and musical compositions, still image works, audio works, moving image works, software and electronic gaming and learning, and database/databases. For each of these categories a list of preferred and acceptable formats, in descending order of preference, is provided. Formats for textual works include XML, EPUB, and HTML. After introducing the specification we discuss why it was created, the considerations in ranking the various formats for electronic books and serials, and how the Library expects the policy to be used.