Thursday, April 7, 2011

Thank You, Catalog It

Because after reading 90 pages of this very dense and helpful book, I finally realized that I was confusing "cataloging" with "physical processing." I understand now!

I find that if I can translate tricky concepts into my own sentences then I do understand them. So here goes:
  • I'm glad I now know my way around MARC records, what the numbers and symbols mean, and how and when to modify them, including subject headings. I can modify them even though they'll likely come completed bythe publisher.
  • Modifications like these can help my users access materials more easily. More subjects - including topics I know are in the curriculum - help them find what they seek more efficiently.
  • Dewey Decimal numbers CAN be changed...now I know why I've seen different organization and classification at every school library I've been in!
  • Bar codes and call numbers (which include the Dewey Decimal number, which may be decided upon by how and where the LMS wants to classify the book) are LOCAL PHYSICAL PROCESSING, not cataloging. This is what I have more experience with in school libraries.
If anyone reading this sees any errors, let me know. Please do.

On to the next 80 pages of CI!!
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1 comment:

  1. ET4schoolApril 10, 2011 at 4:23 AM

    I love it when the light bulb goes on! It was really liberating to me, too, to learn that I could switch up Dewey numbers based on how I think my students are going to use a resource.

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