(Mike Walter wrote about VMARCs not having a timestamp on a VMARC.) Seems to me that the real problem here is with the originating site. If the site says that the VMARC is from 9/1/2007 and you have a downloaded copy created 1/1/08, you don't need to worry (much) about whether you have the current version.
Or they could name it appropriately -- XYZ VMARC907 (the filetype doesn't have to be VMARC, right?). Or you could name it appropriately. I suppose the VMARC format could be updated; I don't personally see it as an issue worth the trouble, but maybe that's just me. How many VMARCs are you downloading these days?? ...phsiii
