A Cataloger’s Perspective on Cataloging Backlogs

Abstract

Backlogs in cataloging are an unpleasant fact for many library technical service departments. While backlogs may be strategic in nature and smooth out the workflow from acquisitions to cataloging, many are simply uncataloged gifts, unfinished retrospective conversion projects, or low-priority uncataloged collections—all waiting to be addressed when everything else is caught up. Catalogers are often stereotyped as perfectionists; in reality, the nature of our work requires us to be very pragmatic. By substituting a less than full record, progress on reducing backlogs is possible.     

A Survey of Cataloging Education: Are Library Schools Listening?

ABSTRACT

In recent years a number of surveys of cataloging education have been conducted, and each of those surveys has suggested changes in library education. This survey reviews the current state of cataloging education by evaluating courses taught by 47 ALA accredited programs and compares the results to previous studies. This study examined the types of cataloging courses offered in LIS programs to determine if the type of course taught has changed over time. Additionally, this study examined course offering frequencies to determine if LIS programs are making the kind of courses needed to train cataloging librarians available to their students. It is concluded that although LIS programs are continuing to offer and require introductory courses in cataloging and bibliographic control, they are relying more heavily on these introductory courses to provide the bulk of cataloging education.     

Perceptions of the Future of Cataloging: Is the Sky Really Falling?

Cataloging procedures have evolved in many academic research libraries over the past 10 years. Some predicted trends—outsourcing, original cataloging by paraprofessionals, more digital material—have been borne out. Others, such as a decline in the amount of material to catalog or in the number of professional catalogers, have not. Changes have been mostly procedural and have not affected the catalog itself. Recently, however, the emergence of powerful Internet search engines has allowed researchers to bypass the catalog. This has led some to question the wisdom of continuing it and others to vigorously defend current practice. In 2005–2007 this debate became especially heated, but a consensus appears to be emerging that although the character of the professional cataloger's job will continue to evolve over the next 5 to 10 years there will not be a revolution. The cataloger's basic skills will still be needed and the fundamental nature of cataloging will remain much as we know it.     

Electronic Serials Cataloging: Now That We're Here,What Do We Do?

Summary

Many aspects of electronic serials cataloging have not yet developed standard practice, or are still in transition. This article will explore some problematic issues in electronic serials cataloging first by presenting current CONSER policy in these areas and then by examining the practices of three institutions who are cataloging electronic serials. For brevity, the term “electronic serial” will be used to mean “remote access computer file serial” unless the more specific term is needed for clarity. The five topics covered in this discussion are: Access and Location Information, Multiple Versions, Definition of Electronic Serial, Bibliographic Access Points and Display of Computer File Characteristics.     

Cataloging in the 21st century—part 2: digitization and information standards

This paper, the second of a pair examining the library and information science literature of the 1990s to identify the role of catalogers in the 21st century, discusses two major themes that are likely to affect the cataloging enterprise: the digitization of information and changes to information standards. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of these themes and the contextual issues in the previous paper for the future of catalogers and their work.     

Building Cataloging Capacity for Libraries in South Sudan: A North–South–South Collaboration

In the developing world, a common trend is to have north–south collaborations constituting most of the continuous professional development (CPD) activities for librarians. The emerging drift highlighted in this article is a north–south–south initiative aimed at rebuilding the University of Juba Library through capacity-building of the library staff. This article will illuminate the process of equipping library staff with cataloging skills in the absence of previous library training. This endeavor is a result of the collaborative efforts of Makerere University Library (MakLib) in Uganda and the University of Bergen Library (UoBL) in Norway under the Juba Library Automation Project (JULAP). JULAP's main objective is to rebuild the University of Juba Library with the components of library automation and training of library staff. This article will concentrate on the practical training of the library staff in cataloging and the hands-on training on the Koha integrated library system to lay the groundwork for computerized library services for the University of Juba. This article will also highlight the challenges and lessons learned so far while articulating strategies for the future.     

End of the Line?: A Case Study of a Cataloging Department Achieving BIBCO Status

The Cataloging and Metadata Services Department of the Pennsylvania State University Libraries successfully achieved full participation in the Library of Congress’ Monographic Bibliographic Record Cooperative Program of the PCC (BIBCO) in 2010. Reaching this goal means that the catalogers at Penn State are now fully engaged in all of the cooperative cataloging initiatives overseen by the PCC, as well as participating in cooperative quality control efforts for three formats within the OCLC Enhance Program. This article describes the journey toward achieving both BIBCO status and full participation in all cooperative programs and the importance for doing so. It also serves as a means to invite other institutions to take the next steps on their journey toward full participation in cooperative cataloging, or to join us in these important efforts.     

The Changing Cataloging Culture: What Do We Mean When We Talk About Cataloger Values?

ABSTRACT

The Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) Standing Committee on Training was charged with the development of a training model to support the Program, promote the values of timely access and cost-effectiveness in cataloging, and to expand the pool of catalogers who cataloged to mutually accepted standards. This article describes the training philosophy developed by the Standing Committee on Training and adopted by the Program. The training model assumes that it is important to maintain an adequate supply of original cataloging; to accept the concept of a national cataloging standard; to increase acceptance of cataloging copy; to avoid duplicative cataloging; and to increase the timeliness of contribution to national cataloging databases.     

The State of Cataloging Research: An Analysis of Peer-Reviewed Journal Literature, 2010–2014

The importance of cataloging research was highlighted by a resolution declaring 2010 as “The Year of Cataloging Research.” This study of the peer-reviewed journal literature from 2010 to 2014 examined the state of cataloging literature since this proclamation. The goals were to determine the percentage of cataloging literature that can be classified as research, what research methods were used, and whether the articles contributed to the library assessment conversation. Nearly a quarter of the cataloging literature qualifies as research; however, a majority of researchers fail to make explicit connections between their work and the missions of their libraries.     

Case Studies in Electronic Serials Cataloging,or What Am I Supposed to Do with This?

SUMMARY

Shadle examined the CONSER recommended aggregator-neutral record, providing background on its development, as well as examples and discussion of records demonstrating the changes that are underway. He also included a brief discussion on electronic serials and integrating resources, with examples that served to clarify their differences. Lastly, there was discussion on title changes and buried title changes as they might appear in electronic serials, with suggestions on ways to most effectively handle them.     

The Impact of Productivity and Quality of CJK Cataloging–A Brief Comparison Between CJK 2nd Edition and 3rd Edition

ABSTRACT

This report compares the features of the 2nd and 3rd editions of OCLC's CJK cataloging as implemented at the Chicago Public Library. The 3rd edition is faster for cataloging than the 2nd edition. Alternatively, the 2nd edition has other benefits including stability. Perspectives such as the quality of CJK cataloging between the 2nd and the 3rd edition are discussed also.     

UC／OS—Ⅱ在公交无线报站系统中的应用

针对城市交通信息化的应用需求，本文介绍了在UC／OS—Ⅱ操作系统平台下，设计并实现了一种基于Zigbee技术的无线车路自动报站系统；该系统具有体积小，功能强，功耗低，实时性和稳定性好等优点，可作为城市智能公交系统的一个有机组成部分。对于提高城市交通智能化和信息化具有重要意义。     

微软在前,UC在侧,QQ再度遭遇劲敌

正面是微软 判断一个人是否已经开始对网络有依赖性,有两种方法:问他有没有邮箱,或者有没有QQ。 毫无疑问,QQ是中国即时通信产品与服务的代表。作为因特网为数不多的中文标志性产品,QQ能够在在美国人和英语主导的因特网上立足,这是一件难得的事情。