Cataloging Assistance for Kentucky Libraries

The Technical Services Branch assists Kentucky Libraries by providing information, guidance, and consultative services concerning cataloging, classification, and physical processing of library collections.

Staff articles on a variety of cataloging and classification issues are included in the Kentucky Public Library Newsletter. Selected cataloging tips are included below.

If you have questions for the Technical Services staff, call (502) 564-8300, ext. 229 or 227, or use the Ask a Librarian email service.

Audiovisual Authority Resource

I have become aware of a website that might be helpful when cataloging audiovisual and music items. The URL is http://www.olacinc.org/capc/authtools.html. Descriptions are provided for resources that would help in creating authorized headings to support audiovisual and music catalog records. Some of the new resources that are included are: American and British theatrical biography : a directory, The complete directory to prime time network and cable TV shows, 1946-present and Soundtracks : an international dictionary of composers for film. Hope this site will help you in your cataloging endeavors.

Online Dictionary

I have found a website that I have bookmarked, and wanted to share information about it. It is ODLIS (Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science), and the URL is http://www.wcsu.edu/library/odlis.html. The dictionary covers a wide range of library topics, including library initialisms and library and information science terms and concepts. Of particular interest to catalogers is the entry under tag. MARC tags are listed with descriptions of the fields, and links to other definitions that will help if you are still unsure about the exact use of the tag.

I am always on the lookout for topics for my column that would be helpful to you in your day-to-day cataloging. If you have a particular problem or interest that I could cover, please let me know. Others may want information on the same topic.

Spanish Subject Headings

With a growing population of Spanish speaking patrons, some of you may have a need for Spanish subject headings in your catalog. After some investigation, I found that the Oakland Public Library has been assigning Spanish language equivalents to the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) in its Spanish language bibliographic records since the early 1980’s. There are approximately 1500 Spanish subject equivalents. They are in alphabetical order by the LCSH followed by the Oakland Public Library Spanish subject. The URL you need to access that information is http://latino.sscnet.ucla.edu/library/bplg/sujetos.htm.

(Originally appeared in the March/April 2002 issue)

Use of Genre Headings

Some of you may have noticed a 655 field on the MARC record for fiction titles. This is the field for form/genre headings in the MARC format. A genre is a kind of imaginative work that has one or more of the following characteristics: style, plot, device, mood or tone, character type, and theme. The list of acceptable genre headings can be found in Guidelines on Subject Access to Individual Works of Fiction, Drama, etc. 2d ed. ALA, c2000. The American Library Association’s Subject Analysis
Committee compiled these terms. The list includes Library of Congress subject headings as well as non-LC headings. You will be able to recognize these headings because they are in the 655 field, there is a second indicator value of 7, and the subfield indicator 2 will identify the source of the heading as gsafd (a heading from Guidelines on Subject Access to Individual Works of Fiction, Drama, etc.).

It should be a local decision as to whether or not to use genre headings. Just remember to be consistent in the application of these terms!

(Originally appeared in the July/August 2001 issue)

If you have questions for the Technical Services staff, call (502) 564-8300, ext. 229 or 227, or use the Ask a Librarian email service.