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BIBFRAME: A Manual for Understanding Version 2.0 and Related Tools

BIBFRAME Editor (BFE)

The BIBFRAME Editor (BFE) is a tool that enables the organization of this information through the input of BIBFRAME vocabulary elements. BFE can be used more generically as an editor for RDF data. Refer to the Terminology section of this page for basic definitions.

Please Note: Access to the BIBFRAME Editor is currently only available to those working in the "pilot" so there are currently no login requirements. Once the editor is more publicly available, usernames and passwords will be required, as well as other features intended to ensure the integrity and security of Library data.

It is recommended that you use the Google Chrome browser when working with the BIBFRAME Editor (BFE).

Overview of the BFE Interface

Begin by opening BFE in your web browser (Google Chrome is recommended for the best overall performance). The initial BFE screen includes a series of tabs.  By default, the BROWSE tab will be selected, as shown in the screenshot below:

Screenshot of BFE Homepage

Select a Resource Type

Screenshot of BFE profile selection

To begin using the editor, you will need to choose a "resource type."

  1. To the right of the BROWSE tab, you will see the EDITOR tab.
  2. Select EDITOR to display the + CREATE RESOURCE option.
  3. Select + CREATE RESOURCE to display a drop-down list of available "resource types" (which include profiles).

There are a number of "resource types" to choose from in the current version of BFE, including monograph, monograph (non-Latin), notated music, serial, cartographic, sound recording, moving image, rare materials, and prints & photographs.

Each one of these "resource types" includes a couple of profiles for creating a BIBFRAME "instance" or "work". 

Please note: in the screenshot here, please note the right angle (arrow) that indicates the sub-options for each "resource type" in the list.

Select a Profile

As indicated previously, after selecting a "resource type," in this case we are selecting MONOGRAPH, BFE will allow you to select either the INSTANCE or WORK profile to begin your editing process. The following screenshot illustrates the selection of a profile.

Screenshot of BFE showing profile selection for the resource type - monograph

Use a Template

Once you have selected a profile (either INSTANCE or WORK), BFE will provide a template for you to start entering your description. The following screenshot shows the template for the Monograph: Work profile.

Screenshot of BFE Profile Selection