On the Impossibility of Classification

Last week was an exciting week for me, cataloging-wise, as the library where I work just received our subscriptions to Cataloger’s Desktop and Classification Web. In addition, we wrapped up training on our integrated library system, Millennium. I also finished up the new book of Alberto Manguel’s compiling his writings, A Reader on Reading. I don’t think there is a more erudite and pleasant author who writes on books and libraries than Manguel. Of course, little did I know that the Classification Web subscription and finishing the Manguel book would end up in the same busy week, prompting me to write this short discourse.

A Cataloging Education

As seen on p. 12 May/June 2011 American Libraries:

Periodically there is a post on Autocat, the cataloger discussion list, with some variation on “as a single professional in a (fill in type of library), I am faced with having to catalog. I did not take a cataloging course in library school. How can I…?”

I’ve just been corresponding with one librarian with that problem, who did not even know that the Library of Congress Classification existed as a print publication. Fortunately, she is writing her library school to express her dissatisfaction at being placed in this situation.

Apart from knowing something about cataloging making one a better reference librarian or administrator, cataloging is a basic skill of librarianship, which every holder of an MLS or an MLIS should have.

Isn’t it past time the American Library Association made providing a basic introduction to cataloging a required course, as part of accreditation requirements?

-J. McRee (Mac) Elrod
Vancouver, British Columbia

ArLiS: Closing Thoughts

The past several posts here at The Dean Files have been about my experiences and thoughts on the content presented and shared at ArLiS/NA’s annual conference (2011) in Minneapolis. I focused primarily on the content of the conference, and not on the conference itself. In reflecting on the content, I gave a great deal of thought to the presentation and the format of the content, and I have some constructive criticism in four points I would like to share with you, reader.

ArLiS: Sunday, March 27

Well, readers, here it is: my final post about ArLiS in Minneapolis. I think this was my favorite day, as it had two sessions of great interest to me - the Museum Libraries division meeting, as well as the RDA Test Kitchen presentation in the Cataloging Section meeting. I only thought it appropriate to include a photo of the art cataloging godfather, Sherman Clarke:

ArLiS: Saturday, March 26

Several interesting sessions filled up my Saturday attending ArLiS in Minneapolis. My day was filled with many sessions, but the two that interested me were about book clubs in an art library, as well as ebooks in the same setting.

Transforming our Bibliographic Framework

Well, readers, it has been a while since we broke virtual bread together. What brings me out of my real-life cave and into the warmth of the binary internet sun? This wonderful little announcement coming from our library overlords, the Library of Congress:

Transforming our Bibliographic Framework: A Statement from the Library of Congress

ArLiS: Friday, March 25

It’s time for my second post about the ArLiS conference in Minneapolis, and today I will be writing about my first full day at the conference, Friday. As I am looking at my notes from the day, there was one very good session, and the rest were a “mixed bag,” as I like to say.

My first session on Friday was the opening plenary, which ostensibly was about copyright, and how bridges can be built between educational users and copyright holders.