@article{bibcite_7432,
  author = {J.H. Bowman},
  title = {Retrospective Conversion: The Early Years},
  abstract = {Retrospective conversion was initially chiefly associated with catalogues created using MARC (machine-readable cataloguing) records. It was done for two main purposes: to alleviate the problem of catalogues split between two physical forms, and to assist in housekeeping routines. There were two methods of performing the conversion: either to search for records in an external source, or to create fresh records. In either case the work could be either done in-house or contracted out. Optical character recognition was barely usable during the early years. Considerable variations in costs were reported. Various specific projects are described, and some of the author{\textquoteright}s personal experiences are included.},
  year = {2007},
  journal = {Library History},
  volume = {23},
  pages = {331-40},
  note = {Covers retrospective conversion from its initial appearance in Britain in the late 1960s to the 1990s.},
  language = {English},
}