- Email: [email protected]
Cataloging and Classification for Library Technicians 2nd ed.
Pergamon Library Collections, Acquisitions, & Technical Services 26 (2002) 185–191
Reviews Cataloging and Classification for Library Technicians 2nd ed. By Mary L. Kao; Binghamton, NY: Haworth Information Press, 2000, 145 pp., price not reported, soft, ISBN 0789010631. A worthwhile investment in any training program for library staff, Cataloging and Classification for Library Technicians provides an excellent introduction in the cataloging function in libraries. As stated in the preface, practically the entire text is an update to the first edition published in 1995. The text follows a logical outline of defining key terms or concepts used by technical services staff, library catalogs, and tools for cataloging, followed by more detailed chapters on each step in the cataloging process. The book concludes with more general topical chapters on the state of the cataloging department and related issues and trends. Each chapter is replete with simple yet helpful beginner examples and concludes with a list of relevant questions for review on issues covered. Many of the chapters start with a list of key terms that will be used in the chapter. The text includes a list of suggested reading and an index. Of special note are the detailed chapters on descriptive cataloging, subject headings and classification. While the advice is given in the text to have the original reference tools handy, these three chapters do an excellent job of introducing the reader to the given function or step in the cataloging process and necessary tools needed to carry out that function, and providing examples for key rules or situations. For example, the chapter on descriptive cataloging takes the reader through AACR2R chapter by chapter, breaking individual chapters down further into a review of key rules. Even though this is indeed a practical guide, Kao also weaves in words of wisdom on the importance of the cataloger’s judgment and sense of the big picture in the cataloging process. While issues like the use of non-MARC metadata schemes, such as Dublin Core, are represented by a paragraph in the chapter on issues and trends, it will be interesting to see the placement of such topics in the next edition of this helpful guide. This guide is compact yet thorough as a reference tool in the cataloging process and can be recommended for use in library training programs or introductory cataloging courses in library school. Laura A. Sill* Systems Librarian University Libraries University of Notre Dame 1464-9055/02/$ – see front matter © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
186
Reviews / Libr. Coll. Acq. & Tech. Serv. 22 (2002) 185–191
213 Hesburgh Library Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA E-mail address: [email protected] * Corresponding author PII: S1464-9055(02)00240-3
CORC: New Tools and Possibilities for Cooperative Electronic Resource Description Ed. by Karen Calhoun and John J. Riemer; Binghamton, NY: Haworth Information Press, 2001, 184 pp. price not reported, hard, ISBN 0789013045 (also published as the Journal of Internet Cataloging 4, 1/2). This informative volume includes a series of 14 chapters on the Cooperative Online Resource Catalog (CORC). As the Introduction clearly outlines, the chapters could be organized into four groups: the “big picture view of CORC,” “research and development,” “cataloging in CORC” and “using CORC and Dublin Core for special categories of materials,” thus presenting the reader with a mix of theoretical and practical thoughts on the CORC initiative and its application. The OCLC CORC Web site describes CORC as “a metadata creation system for bibliographic records and pathfinders describing electronic resources” 具http://www.oclc.org/corc/典. The first group of chapters in this volume goes beyond this basic definition to describe some of the key features and benefits of the system. Hickey highlights cooperation and collaboration as he describes how CORC supports multiple metadata schemes, provides for data harvesting from the resources, can automatically assign Dewey numbers, creates pathfinders, and uses crosswalks. Hurt and Potter build on Hickey’s foundation by describing the promise of CORC to build an “all inclusive catalog of library resources,” an idea that seems insurmountable in today’s information age. CORC allows libraries to explore the distribution of cataloging work to public services and collection development staff with support of cataloging staff expertise. Riemer concludes by considering the interoperability of the metadata and the relationship of CORC to other cataloging efforts, such as the PCC (Program for Cooperative Cataloging). Development of the CORC system is ongoing, and this volume focuses on work being done in the areas of the application of subject vocabulary, the extraction of subject vocabulary from the source itself and the automatic assignment of classification. Emphasis is placed on simple, flexible and interoperable methods for achieving these goals. The FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology) outlined by Chan et al. is being developed by OCLC as a subject vocabulary based on LCSH with an eye to being easier to apply in the resource description process. It should be noted that today FAST is receiving attention, finding a place on the ALA/ALCTS/LITA/RUSA MARBI 2002 Midwinter Meeting Committee agenda in the form of a discussion paper 2002-DP03 具http://lcweb.loc.gov/marc/ marbi/2002/2002-dp03.html典. If the reader is in the early stages of learning about CORC and is more comfortable thinking in terms of tangible workflow, he may find the third group of chapters, which are
Reviews Cataloging and Classification for Library Technicians 2nd ed. By Mary L. Kao; Binghamton, NY: Haworth Information Press, 2000, 145 pp., price not reported, soft, ISBN 0789010631. A worthwhile investment in any training program for library staff, Cataloging and Classification for Library Technicians provides an excellent introduction in the cataloging function in libraries. As stated in the preface, practically the entire text is an update to the first edition published in 1995. The text follows a logical outline of defining key terms or concepts used by technical services staff, library catalogs, and tools for cataloging, followed by more detailed chapters on each step in the cataloging process. The book concludes with more general topical chapters on the state of the cataloging department and related issues and trends. Each chapter is replete with simple yet helpful beginner examples and concludes with a list of relevant questions for review on issues covered. Many of the chapters start with a list of key terms that will be used in the chapter. The text includes a list of suggested reading and an index. Of special note are the detailed chapters on descriptive cataloging, subject headings and classification. While the advice is given in the text to have the original reference tools handy, these three chapters do an excellent job of introducing the reader to the given function or step in the cataloging process and necessary tools needed to carry out that function, and providing examples for key rules or situations. For example, the chapter on descriptive cataloging takes the reader through AACR2R chapter by chapter, breaking individual chapters down further into a review of key rules. Even though this is indeed a practical guide, Kao also weaves in words of wisdom on the importance of the cataloger’s judgment and sense of the big picture in the cataloging process. While issues like the use of non-MARC metadata schemes, such as Dublin Core, are represented by a paragraph in the chapter on issues and trends, it will be interesting to see the placement of such topics in the next edition of this helpful guide. This guide is compact yet thorough as a reference tool in the cataloging process and can be recommended for use in library training programs or introductory cataloging courses in library school. Laura A. Sill* Systems Librarian University Libraries University of Notre Dame 1464-9055/02/$ – see front matter © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
186
Reviews / Libr. Coll. Acq. & Tech. Serv. 22 (2002) 185–191
213 Hesburgh Library Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA E-mail address: [email protected] * Corresponding author PII: S1464-9055(02)00240-3
CORC: New Tools and Possibilities for Cooperative Electronic Resource Description Ed. by Karen Calhoun and John J. Riemer; Binghamton, NY: Haworth Information Press, 2001, 184 pp. price not reported, hard, ISBN 0789013045 (also published as the Journal of Internet Cataloging 4, 1/2). This informative volume includes a series of 14 chapters on the Cooperative Online Resource Catalog (CORC). As the Introduction clearly outlines, the chapters could be organized into four groups: the “big picture view of CORC,” “research and development,” “cataloging in CORC” and “using CORC and Dublin Core for special categories of materials,” thus presenting the reader with a mix of theoretical and practical thoughts on the CORC initiative and its application. The OCLC CORC Web site describes CORC as “a metadata creation system for bibliographic records and pathfinders describing electronic resources” 具http://www.oclc.org/corc/典. The first group of chapters in this volume goes beyond this basic definition to describe some of the key features and benefits of the system. Hickey highlights cooperation and collaboration as he describes how CORC supports multiple metadata schemes, provides for data harvesting from the resources, can automatically assign Dewey numbers, creates pathfinders, and uses crosswalks. Hurt and Potter build on Hickey’s foundation by describing the promise of CORC to build an “all inclusive catalog of library resources,” an idea that seems insurmountable in today’s information age. CORC allows libraries to explore the distribution of cataloging work to public services and collection development staff with support of cataloging staff expertise. Riemer concludes by considering the interoperability of the metadata and the relationship of CORC to other cataloging efforts, such as the PCC (Program for Cooperative Cataloging). Development of the CORC system is ongoing, and this volume focuses on work being done in the areas of the application of subject vocabulary, the extraction of subject vocabulary from the source itself and the automatic assignment of classification. Emphasis is placed on simple, flexible and interoperable methods for achieving these goals. The FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology) outlined by Chan et al. is being developed by OCLC as a subject vocabulary based on LCSH with an eye to being easier to apply in the resource description process. It should be noted that today FAST is receiving attention, finding a place on the ALA/ALCTS/LITA/RUSA MARBI 2002 Midwinter Meeting Committee agenda in the form of a discussion paper 2002-DP03 具http://lcweb.loc.gov/marc/ marbi/2002/2002-dp03.html典. If the reader is in the early stages of learning about CORC and is more comfortable thinking in terms of tangible workflow, he may find the third group of chapters, which are