Persistent Uniform Resource Locator (PURL)

I'm not sure why these never have taken off like wildfire. There is a need for a system to redirect users to the proper item on the Web. The co-operative upkeep of links saves time and ensures that the links are checked and corrected more often. The server software is free. In addition, OCLC provides a site for those who do not wish or need to install the resolver.

Beside OCLC, the GPO is using them. When I found a bad link I e-mailed them and it was fixed, not only for me but also for all who had that MARC record. CONSER is conducting a study of using them. Why are not these being used by Web rings, surely each site would share many of the same links. Municipalities and states could set one up covering sites in their geographic area.

MARC Organization Codes

Now it is possible to search these codes by either the code or name of an organization. This could also be useful in tracking down an address or a name for authority work. It is a good idea to check and make sure your name and address is current.

If your organization needs a code, you can apply for one on-line in English, in Spanish and in Portuguese. It takes about 2 weeks to process the request

Cataloging Theory and History

I've been reading a book which should be required reading in all cataloging classes and history of librarianship classes, Seymour Lubetzky: Writings on the Classical Art of Cataloging edited by Svenonius and McGarry. Most working catalogers would also benefit from reading at least some of these writings by a person who was involved in shaping cataloging rules for the latter half of the century. His thought is clear and his writing direct. Anyone interested in the reason for cataloging, main entry, form of entry for names and titles, and the ideological history of bibliographic control would benefit form this book. Highly recommended.

Authority Records

I was asked where to find training in authority records. I can't find any online. The best is that offered by the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) as NACO or SACO training. If you have the chance, take it. SACO training is offered each year at ALA. NACO is offered at the OLAC annual conference. Training is also offered at other times and places. There is also lots of documentation available at the Web site.

Another issue is how to encode the information in the MARC format. The official documentation is the MARC 21 Concise Authority. I sometimes like to read another description and see some more examples. The Tag of the Month covers some of the more important fields.

MARC21 Authority Records for GSAFD Genre Terms

Guidelines on Subject Access to Individual Works of Fiction, Drama, Etc., 2nd edition, was published in 2000 . The Guidelines constitute a recommendation for national standard practice in the provision of genre and subject access to individual works of fiction, drama, poetry, humor, and folklore in all formats.

In order to provide libraries with the ability to more fully implement the Guidelines and provide enhanced access to works of fiction in library catalogs, machine-readable authority records have been created for the form/genre headings in chapter 1 of GSAFD. A file of the records in the MARC 21 format is available for loading into library databases. The size of the file is 58 KB, and it contains 153 records. An ASCII version of the file (71 KB) is also available for viewing and printing with a text editor.

For further information, and to access the files, visit: http://www.ala.org/alcts/organization/ccs/sac/gsafdauthority.html Thanks to those making these freely available.

MARC Specialized Tools

LC has a collection tools for working with MARC records. Many are free. I often use the Cataloging Calculator, MarcEdit, and MARCXGen. If you know of any tools not listed, please let LC know. http://lcweb.loc.gov/marc/marctools.html

Cataloging Electronic Resources

Implementing the Revised AACR2 Chapter 9 for Cataloging Electronic Resources: An Online Training Presentation

The Cataloging Policy Committee of the Online Audiovisual Catalogers, Inc. (OLAC), is pleased to announce the availability of an online training presentation on the changes to the rules for cataloging electronic resources that were published in the Amendments 2001 to the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules.

The presentation is a PowerPoint slide show consisting of about 65 slides. The presentation is available on the OLAC Web site.

Taxonomy Information

The presentation by Jan Herd "Knowledge Orginization: Library Tools and Taxonomies for the Web" is available on-line at: http://www.loc.gov/flicc/mmpubs.html scroll down to the section on Educational Materials.

Also at LC is the streaming video Creating Web Based Finding Aids dealing with Web design, selection policies, and workflow issues. At: http://www.loc.gov/flicc/vidlib.html

Sandy Berman

It seems HCL is out to erase the work of Sandy Berman. The latest issue of Library Juice has quite a bit on the subject. http://www.libr.org/Juice/issues/vol5/LJ_5.9.html

Career

A very well written article on the career of a cataloger is The Whimsy of Cataloging by Richard A. Murray. Worth reading just for the writing, but as a bonus the content is also there.

ISBD

If anyone has comments about the ISBD for electronic resources here is your opportunity. AACR often follows the ISBD, so these are important. It is available on-line at http://www.ifla.org/VII/s13/pubs/isbd.htm

During its August 2001 meeting, IFLA's ISBD Review Group decided to initiate and oversee a study of the International Standard Bibliographic Description for Electronic Resources (ISBD(ER)) to determine the need for updating it in specific, determined aspects. With the generous sponsorship of OCLC Online Computer Library Center, inc., the Group has appointed Ann Sandberg-Fox as Principal Investigator for this project.

Romanization Tables

The scanned text of the 1997 edition of the ALA-LC Romanization Tables is now available as PDF files on the CPSO Web site. There are links to the tables under "The Latest News from CPSO" and under "Cataloging Tools and Documentation."

LCC

Weekly lists of additions and changes to the Library of Congress Classification are posted on the Cataloging Policy and Support Office web site as they are approved. This information was formerly made available in a quarterly publication entitled LC Classification: Additions and Changes. That publication ceased with List 284 (October- December 2001).

These lists are in the form of PDF files that require the Adobe Acrobat Reader. The lists are available at: http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/cpso.html#subjects

Serials in AACR

After five years of work, the seriality changes to AACR2 are about to be published! July is the current target and the Library of Congress has announced that it will begin using the new rules as of September 1, 2002. Significant changes to MARC 21, including the code 'i' for integrating resources in the leader and the repeatability of 260, have been published but it is not clear when the changes will be implemented by utilities and systems. http://www.loc.gov/acq/conser/consln20.html#aacr2

Rich Site Summary (RSS)

At http://www.oasis-open.org/cover/rss.html RDF Rich Site Summary (RSS) there is more information about RSS than most of us would care to know. I still find the Lowery article the best introduction.

I've been interested in learning more about Rich Site Summary (RSS) for quite some time. At last, I've found a nice introduction to the topic, Syndicate Your Headlines Using RSS by Shelley Lowery. It's available at: http://www.goarticles.com Is anyone using this in a library setting to provide access to their Web site?