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Cataloging with a Dash of RDA Part one of Catalogers cogitation WNYLRC, June 20, 2016 Presented by Denise A. Garofalo
Cataloging with a Dash of RDAPart one of Catalogers cogitation
WNYLRC, June 20, 2016
Presented by Denise A. Garofalo
Itinerary for this morning
•What and why of cataloging (including MARC)
•Classification systems (DDC, LC)
•Authorities—what they are and why we care
•Dash of RDA
•Wrap up
Introductions
CatalogingWhat and why?
Librarian mindset
Librarians impose control
Thought patterns
•From the general...
Thought patterns
•To the specific...
What is cataloging?
•Bibliographic description + classification = cataloging
Bibliographic description
Descriptive cataloging
• Deals with the physical nature of the work• Who is the creator? What is the
title?
• How many illustrations? Number of discs?
Descriptive cataloging
•Describes and identifies the item
•Provides access points to locate item
Classification
Subject analysis
• Deals with the intellectual nature of the work• One classification number so
it exists in one place on the shelf
• Many subject headings to provide multiple access points
Subject analysis
•Discovering the subject the item is concerned with
•Locating subject access points
Access points?•Users locate information in the library catalog via access points
Access points
•The more access points provided = easier for user to find items
What are access points?•Title
•Creator
•Subjects
• Illustrator
•Other creators
•Series
Access points and keywords
•Keyword searching ≠ a substitute for access points
Access points and MARC
• Once access points and main entry are determined, completing a MARC record is less complicated
• Access points are chosen from approved lists (authorized headings)
MARC
•Machine
•Readable
•Cataloging
MARC history
•Developed in the 1960s for English language monographs
•Evolved to handle new formats
What does MARC mean?
•Machine-readable = a machine (i.e. a computer) can read and interpret the data
• Cataloging record = a bibliographic record (description of item, access points, classification or call number)
What is a MARC record?• A record is a collection of fields
• A field contains a single unit of data within a record
• A field may have one or more subfields
• A tag is a three digit code identifying each field
• Each field ends with a field terminator ¶
• Each subfield is preceded by a field delimitor sign followed by a single character ‡
• Each record has the same components: leader, record directory, control fields, fixed fields, and variable fields
MARC anatomy
• A MARC record can have up to 999 fields
• The majority of those fields are variable in length
• The MARC record is the standard upon which library automation has been built
Common MARC tags
• 000 for control info
• 100 for author/creator
• 200 for title
• 300 for description
• 400 for series
• 500 for notes
• 600 for subject
• 700 for added entries other than subject or series
• 800 for added series
• 900 for local use
Sample MARC field
•100 1# ‡aAndrews, Ilona.
•100 is the FIELD NAME
•1# are the INDICATORS
•‡a is the DELIMITOR and SUBFIELD
•Andrews, Ilona is the DATA
MARC records are parallel
MARC’s parallel structure
•The fields requiring authority control are the fields with parallel tag structure
•1xx, 4xx, 6xx, 7xx, 8xx
• For instance, for personal names the field ends in 00• Main entry (1xx) that is a
personal name (x00) means field 100
• Subject heading (6xx) that is a personal name (x00) means field 600
Parallel content or structure
• X00 personal names 100, 600, 700
• X10 corporate names 110, 610, 710
• X11 meeting names 111, 611, 711
• X30 uniform titles 130
• X40 bibliographic titles 240, 440
• X50 topical terms 650
Title Creator Subject Added Series
Using parallel structure• If the subject (6xx) is a person (John Adams) the tag is 600
• If the subject is a corporation (ibm) the tag is 610
• If the subject is a topic (cars) the tag is 650
• If the subject is a place (United states) the tag is 651
• An added entry or access point (7xx) for a creator(personal name) will have a tag of 700
Classification
Classification in libraries• A system of arranging the collection
on the shelves which provides formal and orderly access
• A means of bringing together related items in a useful sequence from general to specific
• A way to lead the user to the needed items
Call number• May have a location or collection
prefix – REF, DVD, j
• Next element is classification number –736 or 917.4 or pz4 or RT635
• Next element is the cutter number, an alpha-numeric related to the main entry – H74 or B25
• May include a date or copy or accession number as final element
LC vs. DDC
• LC• Lack of consistency among
schedules
• Too large for an individual to fully master
• No single index
• Too complex for children’s collections
• DDC• Schedule consistency
• Not as complex as LC
• Has a single relative index
• Numbers can be expanded as needed
DDC
•Broad•Groups works under main divisions and subdivisions•originally enumerative but has added some aspects of a faceted classification
Basic DDC rules• Class first by subject, then by form
• Class where it will be most useful
• Place it in the most specific subject division that will contain it, rather than with the general topic
• If it deals with 2 or 3 subjects, place it with the predominant subject or the one treated first
• If it deals with more than 3 subjects, place it in the general class that combines all 3 subjects
Nothing is perfect• Any classification scheme is limited
• DDC places language separate from literature
• History is classed separately from social sciences in DDC
• Reorganization causes problems• New numbers for new concepts
• Moving concepts to more logical locations
• Purchased cataloging only as good as the vendor’s catalogers
DDC background• Oldest and most widely used classification
system in usa
• Allows for expansion to cover aspects of general subjects
• The more specific the item being cataloged is the longer the number
• Long numbers are more accurate but also unwieldy and impractical
791.436526230975091734
•Rednecks in motion pictures
025.431: The Dewey blog [Web log post]. (2005) from http://ddc.typepad.com/025431/2005/09/classification_.html
DDC basics
• incorporates mnemonic devices transferred from one class to another• -03 at the end of a class
number of any length indicates a dictionary of the subject at hand
• 210.103 a dictionary of philosophy of religion
• arranges subjects from the general to the specific
DDC basics• Primary arrangement is by discipline
• Any specific topic can appear in a number of disciplines
• Aspects of a topic are brought together in the relative index
• Never assign a classification
number simply taken from the
relative index
• Always check the number in
the schedules before using it
DDC basics--Notes• Notes are very helpful
• Tell what’s at a class number
• Tell what’s found at other class numbers
• Identify topics that are “standing room” (topics that don’t have enough works about them to have their own number); computers started at 001.6 then went to 004-006
• Notes also• Explain changes in
tables and schedules
• Instruct in number building
• Prescribe precedence order
• Explain options
Number building?
• A way to expand existing numbers in the schedule
• In tables these numbers where number building can occur are preceded by a “-” to indicate they cannot stand alone (omit the dash when attaching the number)
• A book about pet hamsters
• the base number for pet mammals is 636.9 Other mammals
• The schedules say add part of the number for hamsters (599.356) to the base number (636.9)
• So the number is 636.9356
Segmentation
Number w/segmentation• 370.19/342
• 345.73/0772
• 888/.01/08
• 615/.321
•What you use
• 370.19 OR 370.19342
• 345.73 OR 345.730772
• 888 OR 888.01 OR 888.0108
• 615 OR 615.321
Relative index
• Very helpful
• Contains terms and synonyms
• Has names of states, provinces, cities, geographic areas
Relative index• Enumerates alphabetically all the main headings in the class schedules
• Contains certain specific entries not listed in the schedules
• Index terminology differs from that found in the schedule (perspiration)
Relative index
• Index terminology differs from that found in the schedule (perspiration)
WebDewey
• online version of the complete Dewey Decimal Classification system
• subscription-based service
• Info can be found at
http://dewey.org/webdewey/
WebDewey
• Because of linking, the system software must differentiate between AND keep track of the number of the class arrived in (e.g. 726.64 Roman Catholic cathedrals) and the actual path used to get there (e.g. 690.644 Construction of Roman Catholic cathedrals
• searching Catholic cathedrals should find both:
• 726.64 Roman Catholic cathedrals and built numbers like
• 726.6409421 Roman Catholic cathedrals in London
• 690.664 Construction of Roman Catholic cathedrals
• 246.964 Cathedrals as Christian artBrattli, T. (2012). Why build Dewey numbers? The remediation of the Dewey
Decimal Classification system. Nordlit, 16(2), 189-206.
Library of Congress classification
• Used by most research and academic libraries in the US
• Developed for the LOC to replace Thomas Jefferson’s system
• Divides subjects into broad categories and is essentially enumerative in nature (more info provided in schedules)
LC classification
LC classification
• Entire field of knowledge • divided into main classes
• roughly equal to academic disciplines or areas of study
• Denoted by single capital letters
LC classification
• Scope notes• Explain what the classification
covers
• Used when similar topics occur in different areas
• Explanatory “see” notes • Used when a topic logically belongs
in one division, but is covered elsewhere
• Designated by the use of “For”
Classification web
•LC classification schedules online
•Subscription based service
Classification web
Steps in classification
•DDC• Fiction or Non-Fiction?
• Print or non-print?
• Subject analysis
• Develop classification number
• Verify
•LCC• Print or non-print or other
distinct collection?
• Subject analysis
• Develop classification number
• Verify
AuthoritiesWhat are they and why should I care?
What are authorities?
• Standardized forms of names • people• corporate bodies (such as societies, businesses, institutions,
etc.) • meetings• titles• series• subjects
Authorities
•maintain a controlled vocabulary
•provide consistent, verified access points (headings)
•designed to aid in locating items
What is authority control?
•establishing the form of the name
•using that form of the name
Authority control is…• A tool
• used by librarians to achieve consistency among bibliographic records
• provides a linking framework for related names and subjects in a catalog
How is authority control used?
•Mark Twain or Samuel Clemens?• Assures that his most commonly known name in its most frequently used form is used• all of his works can be efficiently retrieved together
• Ensures that there is linkage from Clemens to Twain• enable an end user to find the needed information
Authority control terminology
• controlled vocabulary
• standardized form of a name or term• authorized, authoritative, or established form
• also called the heading
• variant forms of the standardized heading are traced (i.e. recorded)• variants are often called see from tracings
• they are used in the catalog to direct the user from the variant to the standardized heading
• other standardized names and terms that are related to the standardized heading are also traced• often called see also from tracings
• they are used to direct the user from a closely related name or concept to the standardized heading
• note, related names and terms are themselves standardized forms
More authority terminology• Authority file
• A file containing authority records
• Does not usually display to the catalog user
• See reference• Directs a user from an unauthorized variant form of a heading to
the authorized form
• Dinosauria see Dinosaurs
• See also reference• Directs a user from one authorized heading to another, related
authorized heading.
• Diseases see also Pathology
What if there’s no authority control?
•Symptoms include:•dead-end records
•no author or keyword linkages
•the lack of finding well-known titles
Without authority control…
•More difficult for users to find things
•No links between variant access points
RDAWhat is it? Why should I know?
What is RDA?
RDA
•Resource Description and Access
RDA
•Fundamentally different than AACR2•Focus on content first
•Carrier/format is second
•Cultivates relationships
•Guidelines rather than rules
•Goal—> enhancing user access
A little history• AACR2 (1977)
• VHS (1977)
• CDs (1982)
• CD-ROMs (1985)
• DVDs (1995)
• The (commercial) Internet (1995)
• Blogging and chat (1997)
• Friendster (2002)
• Internet podcasting (2004)
A little RDA history
•Work began on AACR3 in 2004
•RDA “born” in 2005
•RDA Toolkit released in June 2010
•LC implemented RDA in March 2013
What is RDA?•A cataloging standard
• A content standard • To describe relationships
• Between related resources• Among those who created the resource
• Content independent (i.e. not book-centric)• Focus on resource discovery•Designed for the digital world to describe a resource
• to be responsive• for extensibility (takes future growth into consideration)• for adaptability (who knows what will happen in the future?)
RDA•Similar instructions for cataloging
•Different framework
•New vocabulary
•New concepts
•“Take what you see”
•Focus on the user
Why RDA?
Why RDA?
•Evolution
• Improvement will be needed•Better display of resources
• Show relationships better
•Users better able to navigate and view
Changes ….
• in catalog records
• conceptual changes in access points (headings)
• No more abbreviations –> words are spelled out
• OPAC display • Not all library management systems can handle them
• Eventually these fields will be displayed
Terminology changes
AACR2 RDA
Heading Authorized access point
Sound disc Audio disc
Physical description Carrier
Author Creator
Person, family, corporate body Entity
What didn’t change with RDA?
• A lot!
•Much of what you are used to with AACR2 is carried over into RDA virtually unchanged
•RDA cataloging continues to use both MARC and ISBD
• Dimensions continue to use cm.
•Many music abbreviations remain (op. min., etc.)
What is different with RDA?
Abbreviations are spelled out! •No more Latin abbreviations
• s.l. (sine loco = without a place)
• s.n. (sine nomine = without a name)
• et al. (et alii = and others)
• ca. (circa = approximately)
AACR2 RDA
i.e. that is
acc. accompanied
unacc. unaccompanied
arr. arranged
col. color
facsim. facsimile
ed. edition
s.l. [place of publication not identified]
s.n. [publisher not identified]
n.d [date of publication not identified]
Terminology changes
AACR2 RDA
Uniform title Preferred title
Conventional title
Sound disc Audio disc
Physical description Carrier
Author Creator
Chief source of information Preferred sources
Established form of name Preferred form of name
No GMD in RDA
• The GMD (general material designation), found in the 245 TITLE field, subfield h• Videorecording• Sound recording• Realia
• Replaced by three new fields• 336 field, or Content • 337 field, or Media • 338 field, or Carrier
No GMD example--DVD
•245 ‡a Infinitely polar bear / a Sony Pictures Classics release.
•300 ‡a 1 videodisc (88 min.) : ‡b digital, sound, color ; ‡c 4 ¾ in.
•336 ‡a two-dimensional moving image
•337 ‡a video
•338 ‡a videodisc
Future
More changes are on the horizon
Be on the lookout
•FRBR
•BIBFRAME
•Linked data
•Metadata
Stay current
• Autocat listserv –https://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=AUTOCAT&A=1
• Online audiovisual catalogers listserv --http://www.olacinc.org/drupal/?q=node/51
• Radcat listserv --https://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=RADCAT&A=1
Review
Cataloging
•Thought process
•Bibliographic description
•Subject analysis
•Classification number
•Access points
•MARC records
Classification systems
• Arranges the materials in our collections
• The DDC is used mostly by school and public libraries
• LCC is used by academic and research libraries
• No system is perfect
• Classification steps include• make some basic determinations
• perform subject analysis
• develop the classification
• verify
Authorities
• Standard forms of names
• Maintain a controlled vocabulary for consisitent access
• Aids in locating resources
• Authority control • tool
• establishes a recognized form of name
• Lack of authority control makes it more difficult to find things
RDA
•Resource Description and Access
•Cataloging standard
•Content independent (not book-centric)
•Designed for the digital world
•New vocabulary
•Focus on the user
Resources
Resources--cataloging
• Cataloger’s reference shelf --http://www.itsmarc.com/crs/crs.htm
• CONSER info (serials cataloging) --http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/conser/
• LC Cutter table --https://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/053/table.html
• Finding a book on the shelf (LC) --http://lib.colostate.edu/howto/others/findbklc.html
• How to read a DDC number --http://www.library.illinois.edu/ugl/howdoi/callnumber.html
Resources--cataloging
• LC’s resources for cataloging--http://www.loc.gov/aba/cataloging/tools/
• MARC tag list--http://www.itsmarc.com/crs/mergedprojects/helpauth/helpauth/tag_list.htm
• Taylor, A.G.(2015). Introduction to cataloging and classification. 10th ed. Libraries Unlimited.
• Tulane University’s Introduction to LC Subject Headings--http://www.tulane.edu/~techserv/lcsh%20introd.html
• Welsh, A. (2012). Practical cataloging: AACR2, RDA and MARC 21. Neal-Schuman.
Resources--authorities
• LC’s understanding authorities--http://www.loc.gov/marc/uma/
• LC authorities (searchable)--http://authorities.loc.gov/
• Tillet, B. & Taylor. A.G. (2012). Authority control in organizing and accessing information. Routledge.
Resources--RDA
• LC training modules --http://www.loc.gov/aba/rda/training_modules.html
• LC RDA materials--https://www.loc.gov/aba/rda/
• RDA blog --http://resourcedescriptionandaccess.blogspot.com/
• RDA libguide --
http://libraryguides.msmc.edu/rda
• RDA materials (British Library) --http://www.bl.uk/bibliographic/cataloguing-training.html
• RSC RDA info--http://www.rda-rsc.org/content/rda_faq
Resources--RDA
• Kincy, C.P. & Layne, S.S. (2014). Making the move to RDA: A self-study primer for catalogers. Rowmann & Littlefield.
•Maxwell, R.L. (2013). Maxwell’s handbook for RDA. American Library Association.
