Frequently Asked QuestionsThis is a featured page

Below are commonly asked questions and answers about cataloging.

  1. What's the difference between cataloging and organizing? Organizing your library should take place before you start your catalog. You need to decide how your patrons can get the most use from your library. Organizing would entail separating fiction from non-fiction, and juvenile from adult. By evaluating what you have, you can decide if you have enough items to separate sections into smaller groups like mystery, sci-fi, western, easy-readers, Alaskana, etc. Keep in mind that you want to make it as user friendly as possible.Cataloging means describing the items in your collection in a standardized way so the items can be easily found. Cataloging items into an organized system you set up allows staff and patrons to easily and quickly find the information and items they want.
  2. Why catalog? According to Webster's Dictionary, a card catalog is an enumeration of all resources of a library; a complete list of things; usually arranged systematically. A necessary list of things. Having a catalog, whether it's computerized or with cards, will make it easier for your staff and your patrons to find what they're looking for. Think of it another way: cataloging makes it easy to find the needle in the haystack of information. If you have fifty books in your library, you probably don't need to catalog anything. You and your patrons can readily assess what's there and what's missing just by running your collective eyeballs.
  3. Can't the computer do the cataloging for me? The best way a computer can help you catalog is by giving information. In order for you to retrieve information about your collection from a computer, first it has to be entered. Entering records into your computer can be done in a number of ways. You can by records from book sellers, or a cataloging organization, or you can input them yourself. You may find that records you import from outside sources still need to be tweaked to your specific collection.
  4. What's copy cataloging? Copy cataloging is taking a record from another library and adding to your collection. This can be done in a number of ways. You could import the record electronically, or retype the information into your system. This way the work is already done for you, but don't be afraid to add in more information or subject lines if they are appreciate for your collection.
  5. What's original cataloging? Original cataloging must be done with some care. It is best to have a manual to refer to for the finer details (OCLC has one available on line). It can be done quickly and efficiently as long as you have enough information on the item and you input it so that it can be easily recalled.
  6. Are there classes I can take? BCR offers some great classes. free Friday forums and ones you pay for www.bcr.org/training/online. Idaho's able program also has some good step by step classes http://libraries.idaho.gov/able . PDF training products by the Instructional development and Training Division of the Acquisitions and Bibliographic Control Directorate at the Library of Congress www.loc.gov/catworkshop/ .
  7. What is the Dewey Decimal System?
  8. What is the Library of Congress Classification System?
  9. What is AACR2? While MARC is the standard for making catalog records machine-readable, for libraries in the US current catalog records are prepared according to the Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, 2nd Edition. These rules are revised, amended and interpreted by the Library of Congress to ensure uniformity in the description of an item. Including, but not limited to punctuation and spacing ( so computer can all read the same thing, main entry and added entry information, and in making uniform titles. AARC2 is available from the American Library Association http://www.ala.org/.
  10. What is MARC? MARC (Machine-Readable Cataloging) is a set of standards for identifying , storing, and communicating cataloging information. MARC allows a computer to manipulate titles, subjects and other parts of a bibliographic record and allows records to be shared by different systems and vendors.
  11. What is a bib record anyway? A bibliographic record is a collection of fields containing information about an item. A field is a marked area in which the same type of bibliographic data is consistently entered. Bibliographic records have coded data at the beginning of the record (called the “leader” in the MARC bibliographic format) and two other types of fields, fixed fields and variable fields. Fixed fields contain coded data which facilitate retrieval and data manipulation by computer systems. Variable fields contain the textual data about the item. For example, the physical description is in one variable field, the edition statement in another.
  12. What's a catalog card?
  13. What is RDA?






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D.Coder 		Latest page update: made by D.Coder , Aug 1 2008, 12:33 PM EDT (about this update About This Update D.Coder Edited by D.Coder

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