What do all those letters and numbers mean

1
What do all those letters and numbers mean?

• Fitzgeralds notes from
• Classifying, cataloging, and processing
• Chapter 10
• Wasman, A. (1998). New steps to service.
  Chicago ALA.

2
In the old days

• Cataloging was the technical aspect of our job
• Secret knowledge
• Cataloging professor used red pencil to mark
  minute errors on typed cataloged cards

3
Real world 20 years ago

• Far more exciting things to do than cataloging
• Tempting, easy to ignore the responsibility
• But answers to information needs might be locked
  up in items lingering on back shelves this is
  the reason to take the trouble

4
Advent of preprocessing

• Not sure when this came into style
• Central processing had been around
• Preprocessing classifying, cataloging,
  processing done by vendor or other commercial
  source as a purchase option
• Saved lots of time, put items in use
• Customizable for most situations
• Necessary to check over, minor fixes

5
Automation early 1990s

• Brought renewed importance to standardization
• Interlibrary loan, database sharing (union
  catalogs) became more prominent, easier to
  accomplish
• MARC records required

6
MARC

• MAchine Readable Cataloging
• Standardized way of entering bibliographic
  information
• Standard across all automation systems

7
Getting new items ready for use

• Three chores
• Classify assign call number, which determines
  placement on shelves
• Catalog prepare a record for each item that can
  be found in the catalog (card or database record)
• Process physically prepare the item spine
  label, mark, stamp, date due slip, ownership, etc.

8
Its a checklist moment!

• A useful activity during this course would be to
  collect the steps to go on your checklist
• Checklists will vary from media center to media
  center
• When you move in, one thing to look for is an
  old processing checklist, or at least examine
  items to see how it has been done

9
Classification

• Heart of information organization
• Systems
• Dewey Decimal System
• Library of Congress
• Dublin Core
• Others
• Dewey does it for most school media centers

10
Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)

• Abridged vs unabridged abridged works for us
• Unabridged is much more specific (more numbers to
  the right of the decimal point)
• Guide contains tables, explanations, subject
  index to help you determine the number
• But there are easier ways

11
Suggested DDC nos. can be found in

• Selection tools
• Reviews
• Publishers and vendors catalogs
• Sears List of Subject Headings
• Cataloging in Publication (CIP) in book
  provided by most publishers full catalog card
  information on title page verso should always be
  verified with source (created early in
  publication cycle)
• Your own catalog for similar items

12
Local decisions quirks

• Examples
• B or 921 biography
• Careers 371.42 or specific career area (like
  doctors610.6, historian907.2)
• Developed in each MC to assist its particular
  users
• Find out what they are look for written record
  in a cataloging guide (local authority file) or
  check similar materials

13
Call numbers

• DD forms top line
• Bottom line indicates author
• If no author, use title
• Recommend 3 letters. Optimum for quick shelving,
  will usually fit on spine
• Check spine labels of other books for uniformity
• Cutter nos. in fashion years ago. Weird-looking
  call nos. Recommend against unless you have huge
  collection.

14
Cataloging

• Creating the bibliographic information for
  indexing the item
• Deal with subject headings first
• Important to list as many SHs as you can for
  later access
• Use a standard list
• Sears
• Library of Congress (some high schools)
• Subject Headings for Children (LC w/ Dewey nos.)
• Use whatever has been used in your MC - dont
  change

15
Sears

• Most commonly used in schools
• Purpose consistency
• Use it as your authority file mark decisions in
  
• Check used headings
• Add other subject headings
• Add cross references (see, see also)

16
SHs usually apply to whole book

• But may be useful to subdivide individual
  chapters or parts
• Same sources of DDs study for SHs
• New topics (ex. new president, new war) good
  source of SHs is Readers Guide to Periodical
  Literature

17
Cross References

• See also Ostriches see also birds
• See Farming See Agriculture (substitute synonym)
• Common example Cars/Automobiles

18
All Catalog records need

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

19
Library Joke Break

• A large green frog hops into a library, jumps up
  on the reference counter and says to the
  librarian, "I want an interlibrary loan."
• The librarian says, "You'll have to see the Head
  of ILL. Her office is down the hall and the name
  on the door says "Patricia Wack."
• So the frog hops off the counter, down the hall
  and to Mrs. Wack's office.

20

• He jumps up on her desk and says, "I want an
  interlibrary loan." Mrs. Wack, quite puzzled,
  gives the standard line, "We must have something
  to secure the loan, a library card or some
  collateral."
• At that the frog pulls out a ceramic lion, places
  it on her desk and repeats that he wants a loan.
• So Patricia picks up the ceramic lion, goes in to
  the Library Director's office, places the ceramic
  lion on his desk, and tells him, "I have this
  frog in my office who says he wants a loan, and
  this is what he has to secure it. I don't even
  know what this thing is."

21

• The Librarian looks at the ceramic lion, looks at
  Mrs. Wack, looks back at the ceramic lion and
  finally says
• Its a knick-knack, Paddy Wack. Give the frog a
  loan.
• From http//www.lib.uaa.alaska.edu/hsis/pnc/humor7
  .htm (University of Alaska Libraries)

22
MARC

• Machine Readable Cataloging
• Record that can be read by computer
• Shift from typed catalog format to MARC
• Can be shared between libraries
• Pretty much universally compatible in
  English-speaking world

23
MARC Anatomy

• Fields show computer where specific data can be
  found (publisher, etc.)
• Tags 3-digit numbers, assigned to field
• 100 an author with a personal name
• 110 an author that is a corporation
• Tags go IN a field and show what kind of
  information it is (a type of classification)
• Piepenburg provides these tags
• Subfields -

24
Full MARC records

• Important to choose this option when you have a
  choice
• Sometimes, vendors provide poor, partial, skimpy
  records can be edited, but get the real thing
  when you can

25
Example
26
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. MAF Eh
  there are lots of shortcuts.
• Knowing how to interpret and alter MARC records
  is where the knowledge will really help

27

• Automation software usually includes MARC entry
  and editing tools often very easy
• Vendors provide records (MicroLIF) upload,
  adjust as needed, thats it
• Can purchase bibliographic database tool such as
  MARC Magician search for items, upload records

28
Numbers

• ISBN International Standard Book Number
  identifies specific title and even binding
• LCC Library of Congress Catalog no. like a
  catalog number specific to title but not
  physical version
• Barcode assigned by you or your software your
  local unique identification number that tracks
  the item

29
AACR2

• Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd ed.
• Contains authorized descriptive rules for
  cataloging
• Determines correct access points for a main entry
• Correct punctuation and format

30
Trivia

• Do read in Wasman (later, not now) about filing
  rules see p. 114. This is no longer important
  because the computer files things for us. But,
  the PRAXIS may ask you, and its useful to know
  how to properly arrange your personal files.
  Also, you may find it handy for the Vertical File.

31
Now, we REALLY need a joke.

• How many library workers does it take to change a
  light bulb?
• None!
• one chooses the bulb
• one contacts a vendor and orders the bulb
• one receives it
• one places the bulb on the bulb shelf
• one charges the bulb out
• but the users finally must change the bulb
  themselves.

From http//scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us/bbs/joke92.html
32
Processing

• Buy as much as you can no guilt! Most of us
  dont have time to bake our own bread same
  principle.

33
Steps in processing new materials

• Identify item with school name and address.
• Follow established patterns
• Secret page
• All over the place harder to remove
• Label EACH component (think, kits) w/ owner AND
  barcode
• Perhaps use engraver and/or permanent marker for
  non-paper items

34
Steps, cont.

• 2. Call number on spine
• Be consistent
• Very important element
• Standard placement
• Text direction upright is best if vertical,
  make sure its top-bottom
• Hot-stamping good stick-on labels must be
  covered software will generate if needed
• Dont hand-letter. Yuck.

35
Step 3 Circulation aids

• Cards/pockets borrowers cards not needed if you
  have automation. (If not, read up on this.)
• We used pockets for several things date due
  slip student library card notes about reserves,
  etc.
• Date due stamping takes too long. Make a supply
  for each day and have on desk. OR dont bother.

36
Step 4 BC goes

• On the barcode label
• Repeat on inside of book somewhere
• Again, consistent placement

37
Step 5 Protection

• Mylar covers
• Laminated book jackets
• Periodical covers
• Paperback adhesive covers
• Consider appearance! Attractive books get checked
  out much more often.
• Try not to cover important information hate
  that when Im browsing.

38
Update system

• Make sure to remember to upload records or
  otherwise enter them
• Edit as needed. The crucial element at first is
  to verify that bc makes sense, doesnt conflict.
  Other details can be edited later.
• Its important to get new items out on shelves
  ASAP.
• Somewhere, record how many items were added (or
  weeded) when. This will help you estimate the
  size of your collection.

39
Wasmans final word

• a specialists time is worth far more than the
  extra money spent for pre-processing. There is
  no way to put a price tag on the time the
  specialist will then have available to spend on
  jobs that more directly involve students and
  staff.