frit7134 art of_cataloging-intro

The Art of Cataloging

SAJones

Our focus

• Survival cataloging--the least you need to know!

• Understanding of the basic principles as they relate to organization of information in a library and providing access to that information

• Downloading records from other sources and making modifications for our libraries

Important Principle: Good cataloging increases the worth of a collection.

• It may be there - but you can’t find it without good cataloging.

• You cannot remember everything in your collection. Good cataloging substitutes for memory.

April 11, 2023What is cataloging?What is cataloging?

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What is Cataloging?What is Cataloging?

– The process of creating entries for a catalog.

• Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science, ODLIS

– Cataloging involves examining materials and determining what pieces of information are important to uniquely identify the item. The goal is to create a bibliographic record (catalog record) for the item that can be searched so that the item can be located” (Karpuk, 2008, p. 1).


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Two kinds of cataloging --Two kinds of cataloging --

• Original catalogingOriginal cataloging

• Copy catalogingCopy cataloging

A better alternative: purchase cataloging from a reliable source


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What is original cataloging? What is original cataloging?

– Preparation of a bibliographic record

from scratch, without the aid of a pre-existing catalog record for the same edition, more time-consuming for the cataloger than copy cataloging.

– i.e.: Do-it-yourself cataloging!


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What is copy cataloging?What is copy cataloging?

– Adaptation of a pre-existing bibliographic record (usually found in OCLC, RLIN, NUC, or some other bibliographic database) to fit the characteristics of the item in hand, with modifications to correct obvious errors and minor adjustments to reflect locally accepted cataloging practice, as distinct from original cataloging (creating a completely new record from scratch).

– i.e. Copy from others cataloging!

Bibliographic record

• The place where information about each item is written down either on a physical card or, more commonly, in the online database.

• Also known as a– Surrogate record– Catalog record

Typical Catalog records include:

• Call no.• Author• Title• Place of publication• Publisher• Date of publication• Physical description (no. of pages/items)• Format• Subjects• Optional, but very useful: summary

Catalog record

To begin cataloging, one must look at three things:

• The item (information package)

• The collection into which the item will be placed

• The needs of those using the collection


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Elements of catalogingElements of cataloging

1. Descriptive cataloging (Bibliographic description): lists all the elements which are required to describe and identify all types of material which are likely to appear in library collections

2. Subject analysis (intellectual access): a) Examination of a bibliographic item to determine the most specific subject heading(s) or descriptor(s) that fully describe its content, to serve in the bibliographic record as access points in a subject search of a library catalog, AND b) assignment of classification notation (which is essentially what classification is)

3. activities involved in physically preparing the item for the shelf (processing)

Some Tools for Cataloging

• Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules - AACR2R (for bibliographic description)

• Sears List of Subject Headings or Library of Congress Subject Headings (for subject analysis)

• Abridged Dewey Decimal System of Classification – a set of rules for the standard description of and access to all materials which a library holds (for classification)

AACR2--Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd ed.

A detailed set of standardized cataloging rules

1.for creating the bibliographic description of the physical item

2.for governing the choice of correct access points for a main entry


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Wait, there’s more!Wait, there’s more!

• International Standard Bibliographic International Standard Bibliographic Description Description – “. . . assigns an order to the elements of

description, and specifies a system of punctuation for the description.”

• ISBD(G): General International Standard Bibliographic Description 1992http://www.ifla.org/VII/s13/pubs/isbdg0.htm

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ISBD in an online catalogISBD in an online catalog/ shows statement of responsibility, i.e. author, follows

GeneralMaterial Designation

Spaces before and after punctuation to separate sections

MARC--Machine Readable Cataloging

• Standardized way of entering bibliographic information

• Standard across all automation systems

• Record that can be read by computer

• Can be shared between libraries

• Pretty much universally compatible in English-speaking world

• Not a cataloging system!

Usefulness of knowing MARC

• MARC can categorize any kind of material – not just books

• Wasman: “If you are cataloging within an automated system, you need to know MARC.”

• Knowing how to interpret and alter MARC records is where the knowledge will really help

MARC catalog record

“Cheat” without fear

• Buy as much processing as you can (95%)• Copy patterns from your own catalog (2%)• Cataloging in Publication -- CIP (2%)• Use online resources to find Dewey

numbers & records, like vendor catalogs, other library catalogs – no copyright on this information

• Use products like Mitinet

One more thing…


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What is a card catalog?What is a card catalog?

– A list of the holdings of a library, printed, typed, or handwritten on catalog cards, each representing a single bibliographic item in the collection. Catalog cards are normally filed in a single alphabetical sequence (dictionary catalog), or in separate sections by author, title, and subject (divided catalog), in the long narrow drawers of a specially designed filing cabinet, usually constructed of wood. Most large- and medium-sized libraries in the United States have converted their card catalogs to machine-readable format. Compare with online catalog.


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Online catalog?Online catalog?

– A library catalog consisting of a collection of bibliographic records in machine-readable format, maintained on a dedicated computer that provides uninterrupted interactive access via terminals or workstations in direct, continuous communication with the central computer. Although the software used in online catalogs is proprietary and not standardized, most online catalogs are searchable by author, title, subject heading, and keywords, and most public and academic libraries in the United States provide free public access, usually through a Web-based graphical user interface. Synonymous with OPAC.

– OPAC=online public access catalog


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Why make this distinction?Why make this distinction?

• There are those who call an online There are those who call an online catalog the “online card catalog” or catalog the “online card catalog” or something similar.something similar.

• There are no cards on the There are no cards on the computer, so that calling the online computer, so that calling the online computer the “card” catalog is a computer the “card” catalog is a misnomermisnomer

• ““Card” refers only to the medium Card” refers only to the medium the catalog appears onthe catalog appears on

REFERENCES

• Kaplan, A. & Riedling. (2006). Catalog it!: A guide to cataloging school library materials. Linworth.

• Karpuk, D.J. (2008). Kidzcat: A how-to-do-it manual for cataloging children's materials and instructional resources. Neal Schuman.

• Koren, J. (2007). What is cataloging: The big picture. http://www.slideshare.net/joh5700/what-is-cataloging

• Reitz, J. M. (2004-2007). Online dictionary forlibrary and information science. Retrieved May 29, 2009 from http://lu.com/odlis/index.cfm

• Wasman, A. (1998). New steps to service. American Library Association.

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