Public Library Catalog

From the archives of the Library of Congress: “An irresistible treasury for book and library lovers.” —Booklist (starred review) The Library of Congress brings book lovers an enriching tribute to the power of the written word and to the history of our most beloved books. Featuring more than two hundred full-color images of original catalog cards, first edition book covers, and photographs from the library’s magnificent archives, this collection is a visual celebration of the rarely seen treasures in one of the world’s most famous libraries and the brilliant catalog system that has kept it organized for hundreds of years. Packed with engaging facts on literary classics—from Ulysses to The Cat in the Hat to Shakespeare’s First Folio to The Catcher in the Rye—this is an ode to the enduring magic and importance of books. “The Card Catalog is many things: a lucid overview of the history of bibliographic practices, a paean to the Library of Congress, a memento of the cherished card catalogs of yore, and an illustrated collection of bookish trivia . . . . The illustrations are amazing: luscious reproductions of dozens of cards, lists, covers, title pages, and other images guaranteed to bring a wistful gleam to the book nerd’s eye.” —The Washington Post

While there are many cataloging texts, very few are written specifically for library support staff. This is the one and only book purposefully aligned with the new American Library Association – Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) competency standards for Cataloging and Classification. Written in clear language by someone who teaches cataloging in a library support staff program and featuring practical examples, Cataloging Library Resources: An Introduction will help library support staff become effective catalogers. Other books on this topic are written for professional librarians rather than support staff. And although 85% of library support staff do not hold professional degrees, many are expected to do the complex and technical work of catalogers. This book provides many examples that support staff can use to learn how to catalog all types of library print, media, and digital materials using the most up-to-date Library of Congress standards. Using this handbook as a guide, readers will be able to perform the ALA-LSSC cataloging and classification competencies and the new RDA, FRBR, and BIBFRAME standards listed below: • Apply and manage the appropriate processes, computer technology, and equipment for cataloging and classification. • Apply principles of Resource Description and Access (RDA) and the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR) when creating cataloging records. • Apply principles of the Bibliographic Framework Initiative (BIBFRAME) and utilize the BIBFRAME model to create cataloging records. • Use the basic cataloging and classification tools, both print and online, including bibliographic utilities and format standards. • Understand the value of authority control and its basic principles, and can identify and apply appropriate access points for personal names, corporate bodies, series, and subjects. • Explain the value and advantages of cooperative or collaborative cataloging practices to enhance services. • Know the basics of standard metadata formats and cataloging rules to select, review, and edit catalog records, and to generate metadata in various formats. • And more!

Emphasizing the advantages of working together and exploring the future of library services in an online, socially connected world, this exciting book shows how all public library professionals can take advantage of our strongest community and information tool—the library catalogue. This book is a guide to the library catalogue that all public library professionals will find enlightening and useful. Its technical services perspective provides a different point of view as compared to traditional public library literature, which is often written by frontline professionals. For example, it poses and examines this thought-provoking question: should library catalogues be considered the primary gateway to the library's information, rather than the library website? Author and collection access librarian Laurel Tarulli examines next-generation or "social" catalogues, discussing the theories and concepts behind them, their impact on core library services, and their potential in shaping future libraries and library services. Geared toward frontline and backroom staff, this book helps readers understand next-generation catalogues and see the collaborative opportunities that are possible between the frontline and backroom. Written to be much more than a "one-time" read, this resource book provides practical ideas for beneficial collaboration and implementation of social features in library catalogues.

Procedures and preliminares; The card catalog; The main entry; Added entries; Form of the entry; Descriptive cataloging; Subject cataloging; Classification of books; Copy identification; The shelf list; Catalog cards and catalog maintenance; Cataloging services; Physical preparation of materials; Audio-visual and other nonbook materials; Keeping records up to date.