Technical Services &
Cataloging and Classification
Jennifer Anielski and Christina TracyIS 554 Public Library Management
Choose and define topic:
Our topic is Technical Services,
specifically the acquisition, cataloging and classification
of materials.
Culturally inclusive classification and cataloging:
• Helps library users be more self sufficient in searching for materials to meet their needs
• Allows users to find materials more efficiently
• Must meet the needs of all library patrons, not just the vocal audience
Library automation:
• Falls under the umbrella of technical services
• Maintain the library’s catalog
• Investing and implementing enhancements to better serve the community and its needs
Describe the topic:
• Items are selected for purchase
• Upon arrival, items are entered into the catalog• Subject heading assignments
• Classification decisions• Location
• Foreign language title translations• Records are uploaded to WorldCat
Outline the scope of the topic:
• Purchase materials that will benefit the diverse cultures served by the library
• Assign subject headings that are understandable to the end user
• Assign location codes
• Are there areas in the library designated for culturally specific books (i.e an ESL area)
Outline the scope of the topic:
• Include information on books that are in a foreign language
• 041, 241 and 500 note fields in MARC
• Investigate the need for multiple records for one item that targets a specific group• i.e. multiple records in the catalog for one Spanish book,
one in English, one in Spanish
Identify goals of the project:
To explain the process of preparing cultural-specific materials
for circulation in a small public library. This includes ordering, classifying and cataloging these materials in a way that they can be found in the library
by a culturally diverse patron group.
Technical services and small library settings aspects:
• Outsourced cataloging (OCLC, Booklist, LC)- saves time and increases access
• Lack of an online catalog system / funding to update system
• Funding for acquisitions may be skewed based on demands
• Selective cataloging
• Staff trained to catalog and classify books
Technical services and cultural aspects in another culture:
• Cataloging foreign language materials
• Creating/using subject headings that are culturally appropriate
• Books, videos and audio recordings are costly when purchasing the same materials in multiple languages (DVDs can fix part of this problem)
• Standardization of physical processing of nonwestern materials
• Evaluating materials to ensure they meet the library’s policies for cultural sensitive circulation
Technical services and digitization:
• Creating the metadata so that the information is accessible to patrons
• Funding to digitize
• Priority of cataloging/classifying material vs. digitizing it
• Preservation issues
• The debate of whether to fully catalog materials that may not be apart of the library’s permanent collection
Chesapeake Public Library System
• Serves city of Chesapeake, VA • 353 square miles in southeastern
Virginia• 207,199 citizens
• Consists of a central library , 5 branches and a bookmobile• Wallace Room• Public Law Library• Gates Lab
Library Services:
• Computer training
• Literacy training
• Tutoring
• Select federal and state government repository
• Programming for children and adults
• Multicultural reading lists
Technical Services @ CPL
• Ensures accurate input into catalog
• Works to decrease time between when books arrive and when they are available to the public
• Coordinates with IT dept. to maintain catalog and databases
• Quickly and accurately catalogs popular reading materials to maximize availability to patrons
Strategic Action Plan
• Goals • To improve service to a culturally
diverse local population• Increase speed at which locally relevant
materials are processed• Materials for learning labs are
processed quickly and accurately
• Displays for cultural events relevant to local population
• Library as a learning center
Links:
http://www.librarysupportstaff.com/jobhelp8.html#techstaff1
"The Cyberlibrary" hosts this annotated bibliography of links for librarians involved with cataloging, Interlibrary Loan, and
Serials.
http://www.ala.org/ala/lama/lamapublications/smalllibspubs/videoothernonprint.htm
The ALA provides this resource for handling non print resources in small public libraries.
http://www.ala.org/ala/lama/lamapublications/smalllibspubs/referenceservice.htm
Reference services are simplified for small public libraries in this digital resources by the ALA.
