Subject headings for ROADS have changed!

In the most recent list of Subject Headings changes from the Library of Congress there are   several changes made to roads subject headings.  They are for the most part all in direct order now.  Some examples are:

Roads, Brick  is now Brick roads
Roads, Ice is now Ice crossings
Roads, Concrete is now Concrete roads
Roads, Earth is now Dirt roads
Roads, Gravel is now Gravel roads
Roads, Macadamized is now Macadam roads
Roads, Experimental is now Test roads
Roads, Oiled is now Oiled roads
Roads, Rubberized is now Rubberized roads
Roads, Soil-cement is now Soil-cement roads
Roads, Tarred is now Tarred roads

I guess we are on the road to updating our databases...

AquaBrowser® is coming!

Our library is in the early stages of having an AquaBrowser® overlay added to our database software.  This is a very exciting development because the social aspect of the catalogue will I’m sure be welcomed by patrons.  Patrons will be able to interact with the database by making reading lists, they will be able to see what others thought of the item, they can view cover art, write reviews, etc. etc.

The AquaBrowser® interface will assist patrons in finding the library’s resources more quickly and efficiently. (At least we hope so).

Do you use AquaBrowser?  I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who is currently using an AquaBrowser overlay.  Do you like it?  What are its main advantages/disadvantages?

Family (subject heading) is now Families

As of June 26th, 2009 the long abused subject heading Family has been changed to Families.  (perhaps it was used incorrectly for SO long, that they decided if they couldn’t beat them, they’d join them.)

LC Control Number:	sh 85047009
HEADING:	Families
000	01555cz a2200493n 450
001	4698754
005	20090626002757.0
008	860211i| anannbabn |a ana
035	__ |a (DLC)sh 85047009
035	__ |a (DLC)6555160
035	__ |a (DLC)sp 85047009
035	__ |a (DLC)329783
035	__ |a (DLC)7905291
035	__ |a (DLC)427638
906	__ |t 0924 |u tc09 |v 0
010	__ |a sh 85047009
040	__ |a DLC |c DLC |d DLC |d WaU |d DLC
053	_0 |a GN480 |b GN480.65 |c Ethnology
053	_0 |a GT2420 |c Manners and customs
053	_0 |a HQ503 |b HQ1064 |c Sociology
150	__ |a Families
360	__ |i subdivision |a Family |i under names of individual persons; and subdivision |a Family relationships |i under classes of persons
450	__ |w nne |a Family
450	__ |a Families |x Social aspects
450	__ |a Families |x Social conditions
450	__ |a Family life
450	__ |a Family relationships
450	__ |a Family structure
450	__ |a Relationships, Family
450	__ |a Structure, Family
550	__ |w g |a Social institutions
550	__ |a Birth order
550	__ |a Domestic relations
550	__ |a Family reunions
550	__ |a Home
550	__ |a Households
550	__ |a Kinship
550	__ |a Marriage
550	__ |a Matriarchy
550	__ |a Parenthood
550	__ |a Patriarchy
680	__ |i Here are entered works on the sociological concept and structure of families as well as works on the everyday life, interactions, and relationships of family members.
952	__ |a ca. 25,000 bib. records to be changed
953	__ |a xx00 |b td13 Also FYI: The subject heading Communication in the family is now Communication in families

ACCESS… an acronym

With all the talk lately about RDA and social catalogues, many think that the role of the cataloguer will change.  Of course, many small parts of the method of cataloguing WILL change.  Change is ongoing. Whether it be a few new MARC tags to remember, new subject headings, changed call numbers, etc.

One thing we as cataloguers must remember though is that our ROLE remains the same.  Our purpose is  to provide ACCESS to the materials in our libraries, whether they be physical objects such as books or DVDs, or whether they represent remote materials such as downloadable audio and video, computer files, e-books, etc.

ACCESS means not only following the rules, but sometimes enlarging on them.  Sometimes we have to make up for the idiosyncracies of our software by adding an alternate title with a different spelling.  Or, perhaps you will have to make up for software deficiencies.  When cataloguing a title with an ampersand, I have to offer a variant title with the word ‘and’ in place of the ampersand because patrons might search using the word ‘and’ instead and our software does not compensate for this.  Then there is the difference between Canadian and American spelling…

ACCESS means using subject headings to fully describe our material.  Sometimes that means going beyond the authorized subject heading and adding a locally created heading if it will provide easier access to the item.

Although rules are what we live by, we must know the rules inside out in order to break them to our patron’s advantage.

Remember the cataloguing mantra though!  I WILL BE CONSISTENT!  I WILL BE CONSISTENT! I WILL BE CONSISTENT! I WILL BE CONSISTENT!    This is even more important when creating local headings — or in fact any time you stray from established rules.  Consistency when cataloguing allows all of the catalogue users dependable sources of information.  If you enter a subject genre heading under Romantic suspense novels for one bib record, and for another enter the genre as Romantic suspense fiction, you are making your catalogue murky.  Now there are two places for the patron to search for one topic!  A patron using the first variation will not get a complete reflection of the library’s Romantic suspense with their search.  They may then miss out on the novel they are searching for!  Spelling errors and typos are culprits as well.  Whenever there is more than one heading for any given topic, the efficiency of your catalogue decreases and the patron’s ACCESS is diminished.

DeweyError list

The following is cut and pasted from an email I received which originated from Ms. Sevim McCutcheon of Kent State University Libraries. I thought it worth sharing so here goes:

Have you ever noticed an error in the Dewey Decimal Classification number of an LC record, and wanted to let others know?Would you like to be notified of suspected errors when others find them?

The DeweyError list exists for just those purposes.  Since October 2004 catalogers have benefited from the existence of the DEWEYERROR list,  w hich is intended to distribute information about suspected errors in Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) numbers.

When LC edits a bibliographic record, the record is redistributed to all of the receiving agencies, and the earlier version is replaced. This process takes care of the error at the agency, but it is often too late for the local libraries, who have already added the title to their collections, perhaps without verifying the DDC number’s correctness. Unless, that is, someone tells them about the suspected errors, and that is where the DEWEYERROR  notification list comes in. When DEWEYERROR list subscribers write to LC concerning a suspected DDC error,  they also have the option of sending a copy of the email to the DEWEYERROR list.

To subscribe to DEWEYERROR send an email to listserv@listserv.kent.edu

Leave the subject line blank. In the body of the message, write SUBSCRIBE DEWEYERROR plus your name.  After responding to a confirmation request, the subscriber will be automatically added and will start to receive error reports. 

The DEWEYERROR archives are located at http://listserv.kent.edu/archives/deweyerror.html