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In 2015, the PCC Task Group on URIs in MARC was tasked to identify and address linked data identifiers deployment in the current MARC format. By way of a pilot test, a survey, MARC Discussion papers, Proposals, etc., the Task Group initiated and introduced changes to MARC encoding. The Task Group succeeded in laying the ground work for preparing library data transition from MARC data to a linked data, RDF environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper brings light to the existing practice of cataloging in the college libraries of Assam in terms of utilizing the MARC 21 standard and its structure, i.e., the tags, subfield codes, and indicators. Catalog records from six college libraries are collected and a survey is conducted to understand the local users' information requirements for the catalog. Places, where libraries have scope to improve and which divisions of tags could be more helpful for them in information retrieval, are identified and suggested. This study fulfilled the need for local-level assessment of the catalogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents challenges and new solutions to the coding of authority records for named objects, such as historical, public, or religious buildings, ships, etc., at the National Library of Latvia. The paper also outlines the main reasons for separating the named objects from the corporate body entity historically recorded as such following Library of Congress practice. It describes how various named objects from the Library of Congress are changed to topical headings for diverse types of information resources, such as posters, photographs, videos, and other materials, at the National Library of Latvia. It includes conclusions about the challenges and benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While virtual reality (VR) programs are not new, only in recent years have libraries made these systems available for their patrons. Along with the VR systems, more and more programs are being released. These programs range from educational to entertainment. This paper discusses a project created at Mississippi State University Libraries to catalog their purchased VR programs and make them searchable to students and researchers via the OPAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the education and training of both junior and professional staff for cataloguing at the University of Botswana Library and examines the formal library school education at the University of Botswana offered by the Department of Library and Information Studies (LIS). It focuses on education for cataloguing and classification with emphasis on descriptive cataloguing; subject access; classification; and bibliographic control for books and other library materials. The paper also discusses on-the-job training and continuing education for librarians and junior library staff. This paper shows the relationship that existed between the Cataloguing Unit and Subject Librarians before the restructuring of the Cataloguing and Acquisitions units in the late 1990s. That restructuring changed the relationship that existed between the Cataloguing Unit and Subject Librarians regarding the cataloguing and classification of materials and the training activities organized by the Cataloguing Unit for Subject Librarians in an attempt to ensure quality records. It touches on training conducted outside the country. The paper draws information from official documents and the author's long experience in various levels and units of the University of Botswana Library, starting in 1982. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the new verbal indexing language (National Library of Poland Descriptors) used in Polish national bibliography. History and organization of Polish national bibliography as well as the context of other changes in the National Library of Poland are described. The paper provides information about National Library of Poland Descriptors main principles, and describes the steps that have been undertaken by subject specialists to improve the subject description of the national bibliography records, especially of its online version. The result of these changes is compared with recommendations for subject access in national bibliographies proposed by IFLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Often relegated to a side note in conversations about curriculum materials collections, psychological tests deserve their own consideration in library cataloging. Libraries that are dedicated to psychology (or psychology and a related field, such as education) lend psychological tests either for reference or for usage in clinical training programs. These libraries, largely academic, have a need for guidelines regarding the cataloging of psychological tests, as those developed under the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, second edition (AACR2) are no longer satisfactory for Resource Description and Access (RDA) cataloging. This paper provides an overview of AACR2 cataloging guidelines and proposes new RDA best practices when cataloging psychological assessments, including kits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stereotype of the cataloger as an isolated, back-room practitioner has persisted among many in the profession, despite years of evidence to the contrary. This paper examines some roles that catalog librarians have long played within their institutions and outside of technical services. The example of the various roles catalogers have assumed at Cornell University Library is used to illustrate some of the possible ways catalogers contribute to the research and teaching missions of the institution that extend beyond their traditional roles. The paper also touches briefly on possible future opportunities for catalogers to participate in the intellectual community of the university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes cataloging rules for Korean materials focusing on the McCune-Reischauer (MR) system, the Korean romanization scheme currently used in the United States. This system has been used for a long time in many Western countries, and was officially adopted by the Library of Congress (LC) for use in the cataloging of Korean language materials. Considering users' information-seeking behavior and searching abilities, however, the MR system has many drawbacks for increasing users' ability to retrieve information. This paper analyzes bibliographic records in academic libraries, the LC, and the Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN) to identify the issues and problems of the MR system. A user survey conducted demonstrates that the MR system is not a user-customized tool based on users' searching ability. Several solutions are suggested to overcome the limitations of the MR system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authority Control (AC) is an important cataloging function aimed at achieving catalog consistency. It is very time-consuming and labor-intensive. During the 1990s, many North American academic libraries, under budgetary constraints, have tried to outsource AC activities. The Cataloging Department of the University of Saskatchewan Libraries (USL) outsourced its AC activities to the Library Technology Inc. (LTI), a United States-based AC processing vendor. This paper summarizes the experiences gained by USL in this AC project: the decision-making process in the selection of LTI; pre- and post-database clean-up by LTI; and, the current AC activities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article reviews the practices of subject assignment by the two main Norwegian cataloging agencies serving the public library domain, Biblioteksentralen and Bokbasen, analyzing 47,235 records representing media cataloged by both agencies, published between 2012 and 2019. In addition to descriptive statistics representing these practices, we apply the Panofsky/Shatford model, previously used in the analysis of artworks and images, to distinguish aspects of these practices associated with levels of meaning. We find that Biblioteksentralen tends to use more abstract terms in their descriptions, while Bokbasen tends to use more general terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typographical errors in bibliographic records of online library catalogs are a common troublesome phenomenon, spread all over the world. They can affect the retrieval and identification of items in information retrieval systems and thus prevent users from finding the documents they need. The present study was conducted to measure typographical errors in the online catalog of the Egyptian Universities Libraries Consortium (EULC). The investigation depended on Terry Ballard's typographical error terms list. The EULC catalog was searched to identify matched erroneous records. The study found that the total number of erroneous records reached 1686, whereas the mean error rate for each record is 11.24, which is very high. About 396 erroneous records (23.49%) have been retrieved from Section C of Ballard's list (Moderate Probability). The typographical errors found within the abstracts of the study's sample records represented 35.82%. Omissions were the first common type of errors with 54.51%, followed by transpositions at 17.08%. Regarding the analysis of parts of speech, the study found that 63.46% of errors occur in noun terms. The results of the study indicated that typographical errors still pose a serious challenge for information retrieval systems, especially for library systems in the Arab environment. The study proposes some solutions for Egyptian university libraries in order to avoid typographic mistakes in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) Task Group on Identity Management in NACO sponsored a 14-month PCC Wikidata Pilot, complete with learning objectives, for participants to experiment with Wikidata, an open linked data platform. UCLA Library joined the Pilot to create and edit Wikidata items related to UCLA Library's collections and UCLA Library entities. With the Pilot's conclusion, the UCLA Library Pilot team reflected on lessons learned. By assessing UCLA Library's experience against the Pilot's learning objectives, the authors hope to contribute on-the-ground insights that may be relevant to PCC's progress toward identity management, and the role Wikidata may play in this transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A collection of approximately 12,000 late eighteenth- to mid-twentieth-century Spanish plays were purchased by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library in the 1960s and bound into 669 volumes. These items have been technically accessible and browsable but practically undiscoverable. A project was undertaken to improve access and discoverability of this hidden collection. The volumes were disbound, stabilized, cataloged, digitized, and placed in storage with ideal preservation conditions. Metadata Maker, an open source cataloging tool, was a critical resource in making the project feasible and ensuring good enough records were actually good enough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dominican University's Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) was one of a funnel group of graduate schools of library and information science selected to test Resource Description and Access (RDA). A seminar specifically for this purpose was approved by the dean and faculty of the library school and was conducted from August to December 2010. Fifteen students participated in the test, creating records in Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR2) and in RDA, encoding them in the MARC (Machine Readable Cataloging) format, and responding to the required questionnaires. In addition to record creation, the students were also asked to submit a final paper in which they described their experiences and recommended whether or not to accept RDA as a replacement for AACR2. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper analyses the presuppositions, goals, and implementations of policies for rapid cataloging in three large academic libraries in the United States. In the first model, The University of Chicago's W-Collection, there was no attempt to catalog materials; the order record alone is used and the items are shelved in a publicly accessible area by accession number. The second model, Princeton's ATA Procedure, made cataloging the initial activity upon receipt, the purpose of which was "to give the future librarians enough information to know if the item is already in the collection or not" and also to serve (with subject headings and classification) the library's users. Finally, Cornell's COR Procedure in which all information in the records is assumed to be temporary and therefore unimportant; the necessary information is expected to be acquired later from commercial sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the efforts at the Daniel Cosio Villegas Library of Colegio de Mexico (Mexico) to create a Spanish language authority file on its ALEPH online system. To date, the authorities team, composed of about ten librarians, have created over 10,000 name authorities, and close to 4,000 subject authorities in MARC format, closely following the structure of the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) records. For the subject authority file, it was decided to establish three levels of description, all of which include the LCSH English term. In order to establish the term in Spanish, seven official sources have been used, with Bilindex (1984) having the highest usage, closely followed by subject headings list developed by Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cienfificas (CSIC) of Spain. As the first Mexican NACO/SACO participants, librarians at the Colegio de Mexico Library also received training by personnel from the Library of Congress in the creation and validation of subject headings. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

During the last few years, the Technical Services Section of Griffith University Library has undergone widespread and radical change. An ambitious goal of a 50% productivity improvement was a major driving force. The approaches taken to achieve this were threefold: developing innovative technological solutions to reduce repetitive components of technical services work without sacrificing quality; entering into a mutually beneficial partnership agreement with a preferred vendor; and, instituting a culture change that included high performance, and self managed teams. This paper describes the processes undertaken, and outcomes achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examines users' needs for bibliographic enhancement data (BIBED) in academic library catalogs. Qualitative data were collected through 30 academic users' activity logs and follow-up interviews. These 30 participants were recruited from a public university in the United States that has over 19,000 students enrolled and over 600 full-time faculty members. This study identified 19 types of BIBED useful for supporting the five user tasks proposed in the IFLA Library Reference Model and in seven other contexts, such as enhancing one's understanding, offering search instructions, and providing readers' advisory. Findings suggest that adopting BIBFRAME and Semantic Web technologies may enable academic library catalogs to provide BIBED to better meet user needs in various contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, bookplates were found in the front of print monographs. Transitioning them to digital allows libraries to expand their visibility to researchers and to fundraising activities within institutions. Digital bookplates offer significant opportunities to honor or memorialize individuals with gifts to libraries at varying donation levels. This article discusses digital bookplates in an academic library and provides examples of the cataloging, metadata, and web processes involved in maintaining and collaborating on this active fundraising program. A previous article on this topic was published in 2012 and this article provides an update to its procedures and workflows a decade later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the Canadian library community's understanding of and readiness for the transition from the MARC format to the BIBFRAME model. Results indicate that knowledge of BIBFRAME is low among respondents and that most of the libraries surveyed do not know enough about BIBFRAME to consider planning a transition. The success of the transition will depend on the leadership of larger libraries as well as better training in formal programs and continuing education initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on cataloging quality and how it is defined by information professionals, specifically university library catalogers. Although there is no single and objective definition of 'cataloging quality,' research aims to specify its core characteristics. The goal is to define the modern cataloging environment, as well as the tools and opportunities it provides, and to improve the success of academic library services for both professional catalogers and users, who are the final consumers of the information. Regarding methodology, a sample survey was chosen. The survey results revealed that the quality of cataloging is determined by several factors, including technical features of the data, adherence to standards, the cataloging process, user satisfaction, and the development of a general quality culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The representation of information in subject cataloging as a result of subject analysis will depend on the cataloger's prior knowledge, influenced by subjectivity. The subject analysis in cataloging is a central theme of this investigation with the aim to elaborate guidelines for subject analysis in cataloging. For this purpose, how books are cataloged in university libraries has been verified. The Individual Verbal Protocol was applied with catalogers from Brazilian and Spanish University Libraries. Directions for the elements and variables of the subject analysis and procedures for good development were obtained to constitute the Guidelines of Subject Analysis in Cataloging. It is concluded that the guidelines formed by four sections are indicated for incorporation in subject cataloging procedure manuals for the purpose of improving the levels of representation and information retrieval results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is of the cataloging and classification practice as it pertains to the Ghanaian perspective with the goal of contributing to research in this area. The case study design was used with data primarily elicited from a sample of 39 cataloging department staff. The study reveals the online nature of resource description practice as well as its universal acceptance and centrality in the value chain of academic library operations. The study identifies the financial investment in the practice as low and recommends an increase in financial allocation and in collaboration and networking among catalogers in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cataloging procedures have evolved in many academic research libraries over the past 10 years. Some predicted trends¿outsourcing, original cataloging by paraprofessionals, more digital material¿have been borne out. Others, such as a decline in the amount of material to catalog or in the number of professional catalogers, have not. Changes have been mostly procedural and have not affected the catalog itself. Recently, however, the emergence of powerful Internet search engines has allowed researchers to bypass the catalog. This has led some to question the wisdom of continuing it and others to vigorously defend current practice. In 2005-2007 this debate became especially heated, but a consensus appears to be emerging that although the character of the professional cataloger's job will continue to evolve over the next 5 to 10 years there will not be a revolution. The cataloger's basic skills will still be needed and the fundamental nature of cataloging will remain much as we know it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the mid-1990s, OCLC has been loading into WorldCat records that originate from sources other than member libraries. This paper addresses the issues created by vendor-contributed records for Spanish language materials and some of the internal, temporary solutions developed by the University of New Mexico General Library (UNMGL) Catalog Services Department for cataloging with these records. Based on four years of day-to-day experience cataloging titles represented in WorldCat by vendor records, the staff of the Ibero Resources Section atUNMGLhas devised procedures to identify problem areas that can cause serious access issues for OPAC users. The fact that some U.S. libraries often download these vendor-created records and do not upgrade/enhance them for the rest of the cataloging community complicates the picture. On the flip side, some that do make the effort to lock and replace the master record, fail to do a thorough job. Even more complications arise when OCLC actively recruits new members from outside the English-speaking world-certainly a very worthwhile effort-and loads records contributed by libraries from non-English speaking countries cataloged according to varying standards. Thus, U.S. libraries are facing some conflicting scenarios vis-à-vis multilingual records, and the shared cataloging environment is becoming a more complex sea for all of us to navigate. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Cataloging quality plays a crucial role in libraries. In this context, this study investigates the adherence of access points in bibliographic records to content and format standards. We employed the qualitative descriptive method and analyzed 2,695 catalog records from seven academic libraries in Turkey. We analyzed MARC fields for access points to see whether the bibliographic records adhere to AACR2 and MARC standards. Furthermore, we provide exemplary cases of common nonadherent records. Results demonstrated that analyzed records have inconsistencies from 2% to 75% for the analyzed MARC fields. This study recommends that academic libraries provide ongoing training for catalogers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey was conducted during May and early June of 2019, examining how non-MARC descriptive metadata workflows for digital projects are organized in academic libraries. It examined: (1) the extent to which cataloging librarians have transitioned to "metadata librarians"; (2) the extent to which non-MARC metadata activities are distributed within cataloging units and shared with cataloging paraprofessionals; (3) the extent to which such tasks are shared with library personnel in units outside of cataloging departments; and (4) the degree of satisfaction with metadata workflows. The present study also attempts to explore issues of concern to catalogers regarding such workflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the correlation of perceived usefulness and patronage of the Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs) by undergraduate students in universities in South-west Nigeria. The descriptive research design of the ex post facto was adopted using a sample of 1,527 selected from the total population of 239,048 undergraduate students in the universities. A questionnaire was used to collect the data. The results revealed that most undergraduate students patronized the OPAC two to three times a week. The findings show that the perceived usefulness of the OPAC had influence on its patronage by undergraduate students in the universities (r = 0.516**, N = 1333, P < 0.05). The study concluded that perceived usefulness influenced OPAC patronage by undergraduate students in the universities. The study, therefore, recommends that the importance of the OPAC should be emphasized in the library to enhance its perceived usefulness by the students in the university libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Library Technical Services have benefited from numerous stimuli. Although initially looked at with suspicion, transitions such as the move from catalog cards to the MARC formats have proven enormously helpful to libraries and their patrons. Linked data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) hold the same promise. Through the conversion of metadata surrogates (cataloging) to linked open data, libraries can represent their resources on the Semantic Web. But in order to provide some form of controlled access to unstructured data, libraries must reach beyond traditional cataloging to new tools such as AI to provide consistent access to a growing world of full-text resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses issues of de-professionalization that is fast eroding cataloging and classification practices in academic libraries in Nigeria. It focuses on the factors that led to de-professionalization, its effect on cataloging and classification practices, and the need to re-strategize by retooling and reskilling the cataloging librarian in order to continue to remain relevant in the digital environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 25 years have elapsed since the last comprehensive measure of the percentage of academic libraries that employ the Dewey and Library of Congress systems of classification. To provide updated statistics, the researchers surveyed all 3793 academic libraries via their online catalogs. The findings indicate that the use of Dewey has declined over the past four decades. Teachers' Colleges and Community Colleges in particular have higher rates of Dewey use than large research or professional universities. This information may help support academic library reclassification decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study addresses a workflow analysis project undertaken in the International Studies and Asia Library technical services areas of the University of Michigan Library. The analysis was an opportunity to document existing technical services practices in three primary workflow areas: acquisitions/receiving, cataloging, and cataloging maintenance. International Studies began the project independently, and subsequently consultants were hired to work with both International Studies and Asia Library to find efficiencies and barriers, identify solutions, and propose future changes in non-Roman-language cataloging workflows. This article provides an account outlining the project background, implementation, outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 2013 and 2015, the Library of Congress and experts from school, public, and academic library communities revised the 42-year-old Cataloging in Publication (CIP) data block (back-of-title-page cataloging data). This article describes the assessments, including development and analysis of two surveys, used in this data-driven process. The revised data block replaces the catalog card layout with a labeled layout that identifies components within the block, merges print and electronic information, and provides additional descriptive and subject access points. A 2017 follow-up assessment confirmed the project's success in meeting the needs of its principal users, those in school and public libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Points of contact formulate the culture of any organization and shape the perceptions of decision makers and colleagues alike. This research project investigated the interactions between Cataloging and Metadata Services staff and other library employees by analyzing interactions. This article summarizes the results of data gathered from interaction assessments and compares them with surveys about the current perceptions of the cataloging unit at the Utah State University Libraries. It discusses the ways these results have influenced existing unit workflows to enhance awareness of cataloging and metadata contributions to the library and posits possible ways to continue such initiatives moving forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Definitions of “quality cataloging” may differ from cataloger to cataloger and from institution to institution. If an objective definition of quality is elusive, how can an institution assess the quality of cataloging work? This article discusses definitions of quality cataloging in the literature and different ways it has been evaluated and measured. Academic library catalogers' perceptions of quality cataloging will also be explored, as well as how these perceptions are formed. The article concludes by suggesting ways cataloging departments can approach the creation and evaluation of quality cataloging in an ethical manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the error rates in shelf-ready cataloged monographs from Ingram Coutts Information Services that were received at The University of Western Ontario. Using quality control reports from a period of two years, over 500 cataloging errors were entered into a database organized by frequency, severity, and other factors. With this information, we analyzed the frequency of errors and their root causes. We found that overall error rates are low, and the quality of shelf-ready cataloging has improved since first implementing the outsourcing program. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this article is to highlight the status and application of an automated cataloging system in central university libraries in north India. Data has been collected using questionnaires. Interview and observation techniques have also been used to bring objectivity in the present study. Results show that varying levels of progress have been made with respect to implementation of a cataloging system. Results also show that with the help of automation, libraries have satisfied user communities by way of easy retrieval. It has removed discrepancies and set a trend for standardization. Furthermore, staff morale has been boosted up in an automated environment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article presents a case study of quality management for print and electronic resource metadata, summarizing problems and solutions encountered by the Cataloging and Discovery Services Department in the George A. Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida. The authors discuss national, state, and local standards for cataloging, automated and manual record enhancements for data, user feedback, and statewide consortial factors. Findings show that adherence to standards, proactive cleanup of data via manual processes and automated tools, collaboration with vendors and stakeholders, and continual assessment of workflows are key to the management of biblio-graphic data quality in consortial academic libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about makers is critical to bibliographic research, and special collections cataloging norms provide maker metadata. Still, access to maker metadata is hampered in online library catalogs. This article investigates the betterment of maker metadata in (or alongside) library catalogs using existing content guidelines, encoding schemas, and data models. Discussion finds that libraries have appropriate tools for improving access to maker metadata. This article thus encourages the profession to coordinate access to maker metadata. Cooperative maker description and the merger and/or linking of datasets generated by the research community are suggested areas for future investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article shares a vision of the enterprise of cataloging and the role of catalogers and metadata librarians in the twenty-first century. The revolutionary opportunities now presented by Semantic Web technologies liberate catalogers from their historically analog-based static world, re-conceptualize it, and transform it into a world of high dimensionality and fluidity. By presenting illustrative examples of innovative metadata creation and manipulation, such as non-MARC name authority records, we seek to contribute to the libraries’ mission with innovative projects that enable discovery, development, communication, learning, and creativity, and hold promise to exceed users’ expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The discussion on the internationalization of German library standards has a long tradition, and revived around the millennium change with the recognition that the standards used so far were no longer suitable for the current needs. Therefore, the Committee for Library Standards, a consortium consisting mainly of German regional library networks and large academic libraries, with Austrian and Swiss representatives, agreed on the changeover. The article will describe all relevant aspects of the transition toResource Description and Access(RDA) within the German-speaking library community. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of the article is to investigate the level of job satisfaction among cataloger librarians in university libraries in Nigeria. Eighty-six catalogers from 29 university libraries in Nigeria participated in the survey. A questionnaire was used for data collection, which was e-mailed to catalogers. Overall, 86% of the catalogers surveyed were very or somewhat satisfied with their current job. The findings revealed that catalogers in university libraries in Nigeria are dissatisfied with dimensions such as roles and responsibilities, workplace culture, rewards (salaries/benefits), and professional development. On the other hand, they are satisfied with administration and supervision, performance evaluation, and opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Random samples of U.S. public libraries were surveyed in summer 2010 to ascertain their name authority cataloging practices. Comparisons of authority work processes and types of authority work done were made among public libraries of different sizes. Results were compared to previous studies of public and academic libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The University of Chicago Library was a formal participant in the U.S. National Libraries’ Resource Description and Access (RDA), Test from October–December 2010. Immediately following the test period, the Library implemented RDA for original cataloging. This article will reflect on our RDA testing experience, and will address some of the major issues related to managing its adoption, including: staff training; implications on cataloging policies; preparing the integrated library system (ILS) for RDA metadata; managing the integration of RDA with Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR2) records; major costs associated with full implementation; and finally, what RDA may mean for the future of our metadata infrastructures. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Research and academic libraries worldwide have substantial collections of materials in non-Western languages. Communities cataloging such esoteric materials expected that Resource Description and Access (RDA) would move away from the English/Anglo-American focus of Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, Second Edition (AACR2) and provide guidance for handling non-Western bibliographic and publishing practices. This article looks at the experiences of two official Test catalogers who work with materials in Hebrew script. How they sought solutions to cataloging questions and what they learned may guide other specialized communities called on to describe resources according to RDA. Input from catalogers will be needed to “internationalize” RDA. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Kent State University Libraries' electronic thesis and dissertation (ETD) cataloging process features contributions by authors, by the ETDcat application, and by catalogers. Who is doing what, and how much of it is findable in the library catalog? An empirical analysis is performed featuring simple frequencies within the KentLINK catalog, articulated by the use of a newly devised rubric. The researchers sought the degree to which the ETD authors, the applications, and the catalogers can supply accurate, findable metadata. Further development of combinatory cataloging processes is suggested. The method of examining the data and the rubric are provided as a framework for other metadata analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Is there a future for the library cataloger? For the past thirty years this debate has increased with the continued growth of online resources and greater access to the World Wide Web. Many are concerned that library administrators believe budgetary resources would be better spent on other matters, leaving library users with an overabundance of electronic information to muddle through on their own. This article focuses on the future of the cataloging profession and its importance to the needs of library patrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines whether academic libraries are still reclassifying materials, how they are doing so, and if the acquisition of electronic materials has an impact on reclassification efforts. An online survey was sent to the heads of cataloging units at libraries belonging to the Association of Research Libraries to answer these questions. Almost one-third of libraries are currently involved in reclassification projects. Most respondents reported they do not believe that purchasing e-books has affected their decisions about reclassification. The article also examines the faceted search capability of next-generation catalogs and their possible impact on patrons' use of classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A medium-sized academic library's cataloging department describes the strategies employed when requests for materials-cataloging services from university departments outside the library, followed by the initiation of an Institutional Repository (IR) project, brought opportunities to redefine its perceived role. A service-oriented mindset facilitated the creative repurposing of staff, students, and skills in order to integrate these new formats and processes (both physical and digital) into departmental workflows. Cataloging staff rose to the challenges, gaining satisfaction with new skills learned and a sense of accomplishment at creating order from chaos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]