Chapter seven tackled the question of whether websites should be cataloged. Kaplan and Riedling recommend that you
do catalog websites, so that eventually when a student searches in the catalog for a particular subject, websites will appear in the listings along with print material and other formats. I can see their point, but in reality it seems so odd to me. Aren't LibGuides and pathfinders enough? What's more helpful for students? I think LibGuides/pathfinders are more useful for specific assignments. They also curate resources and reduce the overwhelming amount of information online ("the Internet Ocean," 163). Maybe by college, cataloging websites makes sense. Besides, college libraries would have the staff to work on cataloging, without teaching 24 classes a week! At least the rules for cataloging websites seem straightforward.
Chapter eight discussed processing information packages. I felt comfortable reading about barcodes, labels, stamping, spine labels, shelving, etc... the power of background knowledge! I know the subject of interfiling can be controversial. I see both sides. I like to see the graphic novels all filed together at the public library. On the other hand, if they were filed within the regular fiction and nonfiction sections, maybe there'd be more of the joy of discovery.
And then, lo and behold, page 173, Appendix I . Having the whole MARC format on one page really helped me. I almost wonder if it would've been easier for me if they had just written the book in order of the tags, although I understand why they didn't.
It's hard to believe that automation isn't in every library, but I know it's true. When I taught in Springfield, the LMS was slowly working on barcoding/cataloging. Automation seems so necessary! So far I've only seen Follett used in school libraries. I know someone whose library uses Alexandria, but I haven't seen it in action. I wonder if the differences are significant.
No comments:
Post a Comment