Technical Services & Cataloging and Classification Jennifer Anielski and Christina Tracy IS 554 Public Library Management

Choose and define topic: Our topic is Technical Services, specifically the acquisition, cataloging and classification of materials.

Culturally inclusive classification and cataloging: Helps library users be more self sufficient in searching for materials to meet their needs Allows users to find materials more efficiently Must meet the needs of all library patrons, not just the vocal audience

Library automation: Falls under the umbrella of technical services Maintain the library’s catalog Investing and implementing enhancements to better serve the community and its needs

Describe the topic: Items are selected for purchase Upon arrival, items are entered into the catalog Subject heading assignments Classification decisions Location Foreign language title translations Records are uploaded to WorldCat

Outline the scope of the topic: Purchase materials that will benefit the diverse cultures served by the library Assign subject headings that are understandable to the end user Assign location codes Are there areas in the library designated for culturally specific books (i.e an ESL area)

Outline the scope of the topic: Include information on books that are in a foreign language 041, 241 and 500 note fields in MARC Investigate the need for multiple records for one item that targets a specific group i.e. multiple records in the catalog for one Spanish book, one in English, one in Spanish

Identify goals of the project: To explain the process of preparing cultural-specific materials for circulation in a small public library. This includes ordering, classifying and cataloging these materials in a way that they can be found in the library by a culturally diverse patron group.

Technical services and small library settings aspects: Outsourced cataloging (OCLC, Booklist, LC)- saves time and increases access Lack of an online catalog system / funding to update system Funding for acquisitions may be skewed based on demands Selective cataloging Staff trained to catalog and classify books

Technical services and cultural aspects in another culture: Cataloging foreign language materials Creating/using subject headings that are culturally appropriate Books, videos and audio recordings are costly when purchasing the same materials in multiple languages (DVDs can fix part of this problem) Standardization of physical processing of nonwestern materials Evaluating materials to ensure they meet the library’s policies for cultural sensitive circulation

Technical services and digitization: Creating the metadata so that the information is accessible to patrons Funding to digitize Priority of cataloging/classifying material vs. digitizing it Preservation issues The debate of whether to fully catalog materials that may not be apart of the library’s permanent collection

American case study

Chesapeake Public Library System Serves city of Chesapeake, VA 353 square miles in southeastern Virginia 207,199 citizens Consists of a central library, 5 branches and a bookmobile Wallace Room Public Law Library Gates Lab

Library Services: Computer training Literacy training Tutoring Select federal and state government repository Programming for children and adults Multicultural reading lists

Technical CPL Ensures accurate input into catalog Works to decrease time between when books arrive and when they are available to the public Coordinates with IT dept. to maintain catalog and databases Quickly and accurately catalogs popular reading materials to maximize availability to patrons

Strategic Action Plan Goals To improve service to a culturally diverse local population Increase speed at which locally relevant materials are processed Materials for learning labs are processed quickly and accurately Displays for cultural events relevant to local population Library as a learning center

Links: html#techstaff1http:// html#techstaff1 "The Cyberlibrary" hosts this annotated bibliography of links for librarians involved with cataloging, Interlibrary Loan, and Serials. s/smalllibspubs/videoothernonprint.htm s/smalllibspubs/videoothernonprint.htm The ALA provides this resource for handling non print resources in small public libraries. s/smalllibspubs/referenceservice.htm s/smalllibspubs/referenceservice.htm Reference services are simplified for small public libraries in this digital resources by the ALA.