Standard Cataloging for School and Public Libraries

A proven resource for librarians and students, this updated classic opens the door to understanding current library cataloging processes, shows you how to use them to create standard catalog records, and provides guidance in managing the cataloging workflow.

Library cataloging and classification tools are constantly improving, making this concise guide a necessity for any librarian or library student seeking improved understanding of the practical process of cataloging today. With the release of RDA, a new code for description, and a new edition of Dewey Classification, it's time for every library to add this fifth edition of a classic reference to your resources. Two Margaret Mann Citation winners update you on the five basic steps in standardized library cataloging: describing and adding access points for resources; assigning subject headings using Sears List or Library of Congress subject headings; classifying them using the Dewey Decimal or Library of Congress classification systems; and digitizing the resulting records.

The book opens with a brief look at the environment in which cataloging now functions, especially in response to advances in digital access. It clarifies terminology, explores new and changed applications, and enhances understanding of basic principles for those responsible for creating cataloging data. To get you ready for tomorrow, the edition closes with a brief look at trends likely to affect cataloging in the foreseeable future.

• Describes today's new cataloging tools and shows how they are applied to real resources in various media, sharing numerous examples that illustrate the points raised

• Explains the way library catalog records are produced for online catalogs

• Describes MARC formats and explains how they relate to new metadata schemas such as MARC XML, the Dublin Core, and BIBFRAME

• Discusses how to set goals and objectives, supervise others, evaluate outputs, and report to and interact with internal and external players in the world of libraries

• Includes examples and illustrations of all tools and offers practice exercises to reinforce understanding