You could not pay me enough to be a full-time cataloger!
I’m waiting to get to subjects. After looking through the catalog record I work with, I realized this is where the most discrepancies lies. The information we have used so far is pretty straight forward. I don’t have to decide what the author’s name is going to be, I just have to put in the right place using the right format. I’m curious if subjects are much the same way, or if I have to decide. Also, all the information we have used to this point, can be easily found without actually reading the book. How does one decide subject matter without ever having read the book?
Basically, though I am feeling much better about the class now. The librarian I work with has enjoyed looking over some of the lecture notes and discussions, as a lot of this information was not covered in her cataloging class!
Kristy Boling
February 28, 2011
240 Words
Subjects follow a prescription from LCSH. You have to use the terms that are in the files--called 'authority files' because they are the authority on forming subject headings. You have to decide upon what the item is about and then find the terms...not always the same terms you are thinking of. That unit is last because that is the one students have the most trouble with.
ReplyDeleteLove your crazy cat!