Automation of libraries has become an administrative requirement of all libraries. Library catalogues are increasingly using standard protocols for data entry, for easy sharing of
bibliographic records. The Machine-Readable Catologuing (MARC 21) Standard has thus acquired greater importance in this context.

Usually, a separate MARC record is created for each bibliographic entity. Theoretically, 999 MARC tags can be used in a record. However, research has shown that many institutions use less than 30 tags per catologues record for any format1. Therefore, catalogue users may find it difficult to decide which tags to use. Not having a national consensus in this regard may lead to problems in National Union Catologues.

Descriptive Bibliographic Framework (DBIB) is a select list of MARC 21 tags recommended by the National Library of Sri Lanka (NLSL) for entering catologuing metadata. It was
prepared by the Bibliographic Control Division of NLSL along with a group of subject experts in Sri Lanka. We would like these frameworks to be termed quasi-standards, which can be adopted by individual libraries as suitable for them. An institution has the freedom to use additional MARC tags or omit tags specified here if that can be fairly justified. Also, an institution can use a particular tag for a different purpose if that is more beneficial for the institution. Having said that, the NLSL wishes to reiterate the fact that entering data using the recommended list will help to achieve compatibility, consistency, and interoperability. This work is a joint product of the NLSL and experts in Library and Information Science from academia and industry.