The director for cataloging, Beacher Wiggins, hosted the Library of Congress Conference 2000 Action Plan Forum on January 20, 2002, at the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting in New Orleans, La. At this forum the Cataloging Directorate shared "Bibliographic Control of Web Resources: A Library of Congress Action Plan," the action plan that resulted from the LC Bicentennial Conference on Bibliographic Control for the New Millennium held in November 2000 (see LCCN, v. 8, no. 12, December 2000, and v. 9, no. 8, July 2001) and offered a framework for carrying out the Plan. This kickoff meeting is expected to be the first in a series of update meetings on the conference action plan at each ALA Annual Conference and Midwinter Meeting over the next several years.
Wiggins described the two major goals of the bicentennial conference: to develop an overall strategy to address the challenges of improved access to Web resources through library catalogs and applications of metadata, and to identify attainable actions for achieving the objectives of the overall strategy. The directorate developed the action plan, which is publicly available online http://lcweb.loc.gov/catdir/bibcontrol/actionplan.html [Feb. 2002], from more than 150 specific recommendations made at the conference. Each action item in the plan features a lead individual or organization, an LC Cataloging Management Team (CMT) liaison, and suggestions for potential collaborators that the lead might invite to work on the action item. Wiggins added that the directorate had used "Web resources" as a "term of art" to denote any digitized or digital materials that libraries collect at present or in the future.
Judy Mansfield (chief, Arts and Sciences Cataloging Division,
LC) took up the topic "Getting Started on Your Action Item." She
stressed that in most cases, the potential collaborators listed in
the action plan had not been contacted by LC personnel; the
directorate wanted to leave it up to the leads to approach
potential collaborators directly and to add others as the leads saw
fit. The CMT liaison for each action item would not be a member of
the work group, but would facilitate communication with LC and
would serve as the government's COTR (Contracting Officer's
Technical Representative) for action items that involved financial
support from the Library. Mansfield highlighted the steps for
leads to take in developing a work plan, including a
communications plan, for their action items. She encouraged leads
and work groups to review the Conference Topical Discussion Group
recommendations that had resulted in their action items and to
refine the wording of the action items as needed. For more
information about the Library's Work Plan Development Guidelines
for action item leads, email Judy Mansfield Karen Calhoun (director, Central Technical Services, Cornell
University Library) described the work of the ALCTS Task Force on
the LC Action Plan, which she chairs. Because ALCTS (Association
for Library Collections & Technical Services) has a deep commitment
both to making digital resources accessible and to training for
technical services librarianship, outgoing ALCTS president Carlen
Ruschoff had proposed the establishment of this task force at the
2001 ALA Annual Conference. The task force will be the lead
organization for work items 5.1 ("Address educational needs through
improved curricula in library and information science schools and
through continuing education for cataloging practitioners ...") and
5.3 ("Promote the use and understanding of standards for describing
Web resources through education, targeted outreach, etc."), as well
as collaborating on several others. The task force decided to form
smaller task forces for continuing education and for curriculum,
rather than delegating work to existing ALCTS groups. For the
aspects of both 5.1 and 5.3 that are related to library school
curricula, it has formed the ALCTS/ALISE Task Force on Educational
Needs with the cooperation of another ALA division, the Association
for Library and Information Science Education. In turn, the
ALCTS/ALISE joint task force, chaired by Beth Picknally Camden
(director of cataloging services, University of Virginia Library
and chair of the ALCTS Committee on Education, Training, and
Recruitment to Cataloging), named a principal investigator, Ingrid
Hsieh-Yee (Catholic University of America School of Library and
Information Science) to prepare a model curriculum for cataloging
and continuing education.
The question-and-answer session at the conclusion of the forum
highlighted a number of concerns that LC has tried to address. The
Cataloging Directorate revised and redistributed the Work Plan
Development Guidelines for Action Item Leaders based on audience
suggestions and clarified the role of the CMT liaisons. The
directorate has considered further suggestions for ensuring
communication and accountability and heightening awareness of the
action plan in the library community. It is considering holding a
follow-up, one-day conference on the outcomes of "short-term"
action items in 2003, about eighteen months into the time frame of
the action plan. Progress on the action plan will be reported in
LCCN as developments warrant. The scanned text of the 1997 edition of the "ALA-LC
Romanization Tables" is now available as PDF files on the CPSO Web
site at URL http://lcweb.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/roman.html [Feb.
2002]. There are links to the tables under "The Latest News from
CPSO" and under "Cataloging Tools and Documentation."
Staff of the Cooperative Cataloging Team have entered new
information on the Program for Cooperative Cataloging homepage.
The PCC liaison list has been updated with new and revised
contact information, including new libraries, funnels, liaisons,
and phone/fax numbers. The membership rosters for the standing
committees as well as the numerous committees under each have been
updated. The lists are posted at URL
http://lcweb.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/pccliaisons.html [Feb. 2002].
A draft FAQ on Uniform Titles has been posted to the NACO page
of the PCC Website. These frequently-asked questions should
provide answers about what PCC and LC policy is regarding uniform
titles. The text is mounted at URL
//www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/naco/utfaq.html [Feb. 2002]
The PCC governance document has been revised to incorporate
the revised terms of office for BIBCO Operations Committee members.
Please refer to the PCC Web site (URL
//www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc [Feb. 2002]) for the link to the
governance document.
At the request of the Standing Committee on Standards and with
the support of the PCC Steering Committee, Karen Letarte (North
Carolina State University) with the assistance of Michelle Turvey
(Southwest Missouri State University) conducted research to
quantify the ability of the core-level bibliographic record
standard for books to meet the information needs of catalog users.
The study entitled "User Perspectives on the PCC BIBCO Core Record
Standard" was reviewed at the Policy Committee's (PoCo) annual
meeting in November. The study employed a Model C survey
instrument based on the Elaine Yountz models that had been
restructured and keyed to the "Functional Requirements for
Bibliographic Records" user tasks. Letarte spoke about the
methodology employed and reported that while users appeared to
prefer full- over core-level records for title and subject
headings, there is insufficient data to prove a preference of full-
over core-level in other elements tested; this among other
indicators led to her conclusion that more research is needed in
users' use and understanding of core-level records, the elements
contained within records, and what users perceive as quality
records. Letarte was commended for this initial foray into an area
where greater research is needed.
David Banush (Cornell University) made the first public
presentation of the recommendations he presented to the PoCo at its
annual meeting in November 2001. The recommendations outlined
possible changes to the BIBCO program to assist the PCC in
marketing the BIBCO Program more successfully. The recommendations
were grouped into three categories: conservative, evolutionary, and
transformative. The conservative recommendations included the
redesign of training materials and documentation, the need to add
more examples as well as the need for more details about applying
BIBCO principles in cataloging. The evolutionary recommendations
included de-emphasizing the core-level record in BIBCO; renaming
the core-level records and full-level record; and placing greater
emphasis on cataloger judgment. The final recommendations included
de-emphasizing the production of bibliographic records, refocusing
efforts on PCC training services to the larger cataloging
community, and moving to embrace non-AACR2 and non-MARC formats.
Larry Alford, chair of the PCC, responded to each set of
recommendations. He thanked Banush and Cornell University for the
much needed and well-thought-out report and remarked that many of
these recommendations will be considered when the PoCo updates the
PCC Strategic Plan at its annual meeting. BIBCO members were
encouraged to read the report and to forward comments and
suggestions to the BIBCO Coordinator.
As part of its efforts to facilitate collaboration among
libraries in Brazil, the U.S. embassy in Brasilia sponsored a
three-day conference in December for twenty-five librarians on the
use of LCSH. The embassy library partners with a loose network of
eighteen centers, mainly public libraries, across Brazil. The
embassy librarian issued an invitation for a speaker from LC to
make a presentation through a video link.
Ana Cristan, cooperative cataloging specialist and BIBCO
coordinator, who also specializes in Latin American cooperative
arrangements, coordinated a response from LC. Anthony Franks,
senior cooperative cataloger and International Cooperative Programs
coordinator, prepared for translation into Portuguese by Carol
Hixson (University of Oregon) a paper on various uses of LCSH in
translation, covering potential problems and solutions. Carlos
Olave, a former cataloger and current Hispanic Division librarian,
agreed to deliver the Portuguese version of the paper.
During their appearance at the conference, Dec. 13, 2001, Cristan,
Franks, and Olave participated in a question and answer session
through live video links provided at the Department of State.
The Serials Cataloging Cooperative Training Program (SCCTP) is
releasing an updated edition of its Serial Holdings Workshop in
June 2002. The new edition will contain new information on the
MARC 21 holdings format and improved student exercises. In
addition, trainers will be able to customize the course for a
particular audience based on the ILS system attendees use. Examples
of how the _MARC 21 Format for Holdings Data_ is used by various
ILS systems will be included, as well as supplemental system-
specific details for the trainers as an aid to answering questions
about a variety of systems.
Trainers for two new SCCTP courses, Advanced Serials Workshop
and the Electronic Serials Workshop, were introduced to the course
material in January 2002. Sessions were held in New Orleans during
the ALA Midwinter Meeting and in Toronto, Ontario. The courses
incorporate rule revisions of AACR2 that were published in the
amendments of 2001 and in the forthcoming 2002 revision. The
Electronic Serials Workshop will be released in April 2002, the
Advanced Serials Workshop will be available mid-2002. Course
descriptions and further information on SCCTP are available at URL
http://lcweb.loc.gov/acq/conser/scctp.html [Feb. 2002].
At the ALA Midwinter CONSER-at-Large meeting, Valerie Bross
(University of California, Los Angeles) reported on the development
of the CONSER PURL Pilot Project. She and Becky Culbertson
(University of California, San Diego) co-developed the project with
help from Susan Walker and others at OCLC. The project will allow
CONSER participants to maintain URLs cooperatively for a variety of
electronic resources. A PURL (persistent uniform resource locator)
server, hosted by OCLC, will be used to enter and maintain URLs. A
permanent PURL will be created to act as a substitute for the
electronic resource's URL on the catalog record. The PURL connects
the user to the URL stored on OCLC's PURL server. If a resource's
URL changes, participants can simply input the new URL in the PURL
server, without going to the catalog record to input the new URL.
Any user of the catalog record clicking on the PURL will be
redirected to the new URL through the server. This will save many
OCLC users from having to track and update changed URLs on catalog
records and it provides a mechanism for regular maintenance of
URLs.
Participants will receive weekly reports from OCLC on URLs
they have entered that have changed. The scope of PURL assignment
for the pilot will be any type of non-commercial, non-government,
online electronic resource. The server was implemented in January
2002 and will be tested by a group of volunteers from CONSER
institutions throughout the spring. Requirements for participation
in the project include responsibility for assigning at least twenty
PURLS and a commitment to maintain them on an at least monthly
basis. CONSER members will discuss whether to continue and broaden
the project during the annual meeting in May. Further information
on the PURL pilot is available from
//www.loc.gov/acq/conser/purl/main.html [Feb. 2002].
The Decimal Classification Editorial Policy Committee (EPC)
held its Meeting 117 at the Library Dec. 3-5, 2001, with chair
Andrea Stamm (Northwestern University) presiding. Through its
actions at this meeting, significant progress was made toward
publication of DDC unabridged Edition 22 in mid-2003 and Abridged
Edition 14 in early 2004.
For Edition 22, the committee approved the revisions to two
major segments of the classification: Table 2 through 55 Iran (the
first half of the geographic area table) and 900 History and
geography. EPC approved updates to several parts of the
classification it had already considered: 004-006 Data processing,
Computer science; 340 Law; 370 Education; 510 Mathematics; 610
Medicine; Table 3 issues concerning treatment of scientific and
technical themes, with folklore, arts, and printing ramifications
at 398.2 - 398.3, 704.94, and 758; Table 5 and Table 6 Ethnic
Groups and Languages (portions concerning American native peoples
and languages); and tourism issues at 647.9 and 790. Reports on
the results of testing the approved 200 Religion and 305-306 Social
groups schedules were received, as was a progress report on
revision work for the manual being done by Ross Trotter (British
Library, retired).
Revisions for Abridged Edition 14 that received committee
approval included 010 Bibliography; 070 Journalism; 150 Psychology;
370 Education; 380 Commerce, communications, and transportation;
621 Applied physics; 624 Civil engineering; and 629.8 Automatic
control engineering. At the meeting the committee received print
versions of _DC&_ numbers 4 and 5. Primarily for the use of Dewey
translators, these cumulations list changes, substantive and
cosmetic, to DDC Edition 21 and Abridged Edition 13 for the period
October 1999 - December 2001.
EPC will hold its Meeting 118 at the Library May 15-17, 2002.
The Program for Cooperative Cataloging was featured in the
June 2000 issue of the _China Interlibrary Cooperation Association
Newsletter_, a journal for Taiwanese library professionals. The
author of the nine page article, "Library of Congress Program for
Cooperative Cataloging" [Meiguo guo hui tu shu guan he zuo bian mu
ji hua jian jie], is Wang Yuanzhong (Taiwan Provincial Taichung
Library).
Mr. Wang first heard about the PCC in 1999 when LC Cooperative
Cataloging Team member Cathy Yang visited the National Tai-chung
Library and promoted the Program. Mr. Wang's article, in Chinese,
describes the PCC mainly from information in the PCC brochure, with
illustrations drawn from PCC statistical charts covering 1992-1995
and the PCC Web site. He concluded the article with his own
research and assessment of the PCC, with an emphasis on its
importance in promoting global cooperation in standardized
cataloging.
As part of a lengthy visit to the National Agricultural
Library, three librarians from units of the Agricultural Research
Council of South Africa spent a day at the Library of Congress.
Erika van Heerden (Institute for Agricultural Engineering), Belinda
Boucher (ARC Central Office), and Rejaene van Dyke (Institute for
Soil, Climate, and Water), met with staff members of the National
Digital Library, the Cataloging Directorate, and the African and
Middle Eastern Division.
During their time in the Cataloging Directorate, the three
South African librarians met with members of the Cooperative
Cataloging Team for a briefing on cooperative programs in the
Program for Cooperative Cataloging in general and in South Africa
in particular. They were also introduced to the Biological and
Agricultural Sciences Team for a discussion of cataloging policies
and practices.
LC CATALOGING NEWSLINE (ISSN 1066-8829) is published irregularly by
the Cataloging Directorate, Library Services, Library of Congress,
and contains news of cataloging activities throughout the Library
of Congress. Editorial Office: Cataloging Policy and Support
Office, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540-4305. Editor,
Robert M. Hiatt; Editorial Advisory Group: John Byrum, Roselyne
Chang, Jurij Dobczansky, Anthony Franks, Les Hawkins, Albert
Kohlmeier, Susan Morris, Geraldine Ostrove, David Smith, Valerie
Weinberg, David Williamson, and Roman Worobec. Address editorial
inquiries to the editor at the above address or [email protected]
(email), (202) 707-5831 (voice), or (202) 707-6629 (fax).
Listowner: David Williamson. Address subscription inquiries to
the listowner at [email protected].
LC CATALOGING NEWSLINE is available in electronic form only and is
free of charge. To subscribe, send a mail message to listserv
@loc.gov with the text: subscribe lccn [firstname lastname]. Back
issues of LCCN are available through the LCCN home page (URL
http://lcweb.loc.gov/catdir/lccn/).
ALA/LC Romanization Tables on the Web
PCC Web Site Revisions
Surveys Highlighted at BIBCO-at-Large Meeting
LC Teleconference to Brasilia
SCCTP News
CONSER PURL Pilot Project
Decimal Classification Editorial Policy Committee
PCC Featured in Taiwanese Publication
South African Agricultural Research Council Members Visit LC
LC Cataloging Newsline Home Page
Cataloging Directorate Home Page
Library of Congress Home Page
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03/04/02