Cheat Sheet

This cheat sheet is designed to help librarians understand the essentials of cataloging and classification, crucial for organizing and providing access to library materials.

​Understanding Cataloging Fundamentals

  • Cataloging: The process of creating metadata representing information resources, such as books, music, and videos.
  • Bibliographic Record: A detailed description of an item, which includes its physical description, author, title, publication data, and subjects.

​Core Elements of Cataloging

  • Title and Statement of Responsibility: Information about the title of the item and the individuals or entities responsible for its creation.
  • Edition: Details on the edition or version of the item.
  • Publication Information: Information on the publisher, place, and date of publication.
  • Physical Description: Details about the item's physical characteristics, such as number of pages, dimensions, and accompanying materials.
  • Series: Information on the series to which the item belongs, if applicable.
  • Notes: Additional useful details not covered in the main descriptive areas.
  • Standard Numbers: ISBN, ISSN, and other standard numbers or identifiers.

​Classification Basics

  • Classification: The process of assigning a code or number to items, which represents their subject and determines their shelf location.
  • Dewey Decimal System (DDC): A numeric system used primarily in public libraries.
  • Library of Congress Classification (LCC): An alpha-numeric system used primarily in academic and research libraries.
  • Universal Decimal Classification (UDC): A complex numeric system used in some European libraries.

​Cataloging Standards

  • Resource Description and Access (RDA): Current standard for resource description, focuses on user tasks: find, identify, select, and obtain.
  • Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd Edition (AACR2): Previous descriptive cataloging standard.
  • MARC 21: Machine-readable cataloging format that allows the exchange of bibliographic records.
  • BIBFRAME: Bibliographic Framework Initiative, a model for bibliographic description that is being developed as a successor to MARC.

​Authority Control

  • Authority Records: Ensure consistent access points and headings (authors, titles, subjects).
  • Name Authority: Standard form of an author’s name.
  • Subject Headings: Controlled vocabulary, such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), to provide consistent subject access.

​Subject Analysis and Headings

  • Subject Cataloging: Assigning appropriate subject headings and classification numbers.
  • Thesauri: Tools like Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) for specialized topics.

​Integrated Library Systems (ILS)

  • Cataloging Module: Use this module within an ILS to create, edit, and search for bibliographic records.
  • Acquisitions and Serials: Work with these modules to track purchasing and manage serial publications.

​Digital Cataloging Considerations

  • Digital Repositories: Understand how to catalog items in institutional repositories, digital archives, or other digital libraries.
  • Metadata Schemas: Familiarize yourself with Dublin Core, MODS, METS, and other metadata standards used for digital objects.

​Copy Cataloging and Original Cataloging

  • Copy Cataloging: Using existing bibliographic records from other libraries as a base for your own catalog.
  • Original Cataloging: Creating a new bibliographic record when none exists.

​Ongoing Professional Development

  • Continuing Education: Stay current with cataloging trends through webinars, workshops, and professional literature.
  • Cataloging Communities: Participate in forums, listservs, and social media groups dedicated to cataloging.

​Quality Control

  • Proofreading: Regularly check for errors in bibliographic records.
  • Database Maintenance: Update and correct records as needed to maintain catalog integrity.
​By mastering these core principles and practices of cataloging and classification, librarians ensure users can find and access the materials they need effectively and efficiently. This guide is just the start, as cataloging is a complex area of library science that continuously evolves with new standards and technologies.