LC CATALOGING NEWSLINE

Online Newsletter of the Cataloging Directorate
Library of Congress

Volume 10, no. 2    ISSN 1066-8829   February 2002


CONTENTS
Library of Congress Conference Action Plan Kickoff
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

Library of Congress Conference Action Plan Kickoff

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.


ALA/LC Romanization Tables on the Web

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."


PCC Web Site Revisions

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.


Surveys Highlighted at BIBCO-at-Large Meeting

The BIBCO-At-Large Summary Report is now available on the PCC website at URL http://lcweb.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/bibco/bibcoatlarge02m.html [Feb. 2002]. The meeting featured focused reports on two current surveys on the use of and attitudes toward the core-level bibliographic standard. The meeting included the approval of extended terms for the Operations Committee (OpCo) members and a discussion of the mechanism for both the new rotation and the OpCo selection process. It was also announced that the participation of three BIBCO members on the LC task group will provide guidance and help in the development of LCRIs for revised AACR2, Chapter 3 and 12, to be published in July. Because of the lack of distribution of pre-publication copies of these chapters, these PCC representatives are taking on a major role as representatives of the PCC membership by providing feedback from an external library perspective to LC in its development of LCRIs. These chapters include the rules for the cataloging of integrating resources, a subject of great interest to the PCC. Integrating resources and the mechanism for distribution and the development of training and cataloging documentation to assist with these materials have been the focus of several OpCo meetings and PCC task groups over the last two years. It is expected that a workshop will be held at the May 2002 OpCo meeting. Interested members should contact BIBCO coordinator Ana Cristan at [email protected].

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.


LC Teleconference to Brasilia

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.


SCCTP News

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].


CONSER PURL Pilot Project

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].


Decimal Classification Editorial Policy Committee

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.


PCC Featured in Taiwanese Publication

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.


South African Agricultural Research Council Members Visit LC

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].

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Comments : [email protected] 03/04/02