----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Peter, Just checking, I presume you want me to distribute this to the local group? Some people don't subscribe to ARLIS-L and want to read the CDG minutes. Good notes, by the way. They capture the feeling of the meeting as well as the substance. Danny > -----Original Message----- > From: Peter Gammie [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 1999 9:27 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Catalogers' Discussion Group minutes- resent > > ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- > Minutes of the CDG Meeting, 11/29/99 > > The most recent meeting of ARLIS-NY's Catalogers' Discussion Group was > held on Nov. 29, 1999 at the Pierpont Morgan Library , and was chaired > by Elizabeth O'Keefe of the Morgan. > > The topics discussed related to standard documentation for catalogers > and catalog users. Cataloger's Desktop is widely used at libraries such > as MOMA, Columbia, FIT and the Morgan Library, and as such was a > starting point for discussion. At Columbia librarians suffered system > crashes and expressed reluctance to part with the paper version of > USMARC and other cataloging tools. It emerged that learning how to use > Cataloger's Desktop is largely a matter of instinct and individual trial > and error for many, although librarians at Columbia noted that Cornell > has developed useful in-house documentation. > > With the days of LCNAF's availabilty via LC 's telnet connection > numbered, concern was expressed that authority records will only be > available by searching RLIN or OCLC--it is uncertain that LC will make > these available for free again. At the Frick, authority files are > purchsed annually, and additional records are occasionally passed onto > their OPAC during the course of the year. Sherman Clarke of NYU noted > that relying on RLIN or OCLC for authority control can lead to gaps in > up-to-dateness. LCSH is available on NYU's Bobcat, and Sherman noted > that end users often bewail finding subject headings which do no > correlate with materials held by the library, though users are > forewarned of this possibility in advance. > > AAT was also missed as a possible component of Cataloger's Desktop-while > there is a link to this posted via Cataloger's Desktop, it is not easy > to use, with its confusing system of hierarchies and the absence of > explanations regarding the derivations of terms. Still other links from > Cataloger's Desktop were found to be obsolete. > > Few present employed the LC classification scheme which is available as > a separate component of Cataloger's Desktop, as local schemes are widely > prevalent. Many rely on Word documents for this . Hotlinks can now be > inserted to facilitate usage of these schemes, though few seemed to have > employed these as of yet. > > Interestingly, many catalogers are loath to relinquish their outdated > RLIN cataloging manuals, preferring to annotate them or simply use with > caution. The problem is that the documentation provided by RLG'swebsite > is parsimonious in comparison with its old paper format, which provided > useful examples still valued by catalogers. And the constant scrolling > involved at RLG's site is bothersome. Some librarians prefer to print > out documentation and save the hard copy. > > The second part of the discussion dealt with the documenation of > cataloging procedures and work flow. Experiences varied widely. For > example, librarians at Columbia use NOTIS, which hasn't had any new > releases lately but rather bug fixes, etc. The librarians have compiled > their own documentation, while systems people apprise them of new > developments with related software. In general, word-of-mouth is still > prevalent in the cataloging community where systems are concerned, > although there are useful documents concerning local procedures and > cataloging resources posted on library web pages. Yale and Princeton > have posted cataloging resources, while the Librarian's Resource Center > in Toronto also has useful links. Columbia and the Frick have posted > useful documents as well. Many librarians consult Cataloguer's Toolbox. > > Additionally, the listserves of vendors such as Voyager are good > sources of information, though one must have a contract to use some of > these. The archives of the Voyager listserv are posted at > http://sparky.gmu.edu/waiscom/voy-l.html. > > > The third portion of the meeting concerned documentation for OPAC users. > At libraries such as MOMA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, end users > benefit from the fact that librarians perform both reference and > cataloging functions. It was generally agreed that compiling "frequently > asked questions" tips seemed to work well, as people are more > comfortable with instruction in this way than with printed guides. Some > users find personalized instruction unwelcome, fearing the appearance of > ignorance or invasion of privacy. However, as Janette Rozene of FIT and > others noted, searching an OPAC's search history log will provide an > interesting glimpse into end user behavior. Many abandon hope after > deploying faulty search strategies. Some type foul words into the system > in frutration. Misspellings and the inclusion of articles are common > stumbling blocks. On the other hand, end users provide useful > information regarding errors in cataloging, particularly in spelling. > Other common complaints centered around differing locations for like > items, name headings and difficulties arising from the variant spellings > of words (i.e. color/colour). > > The next CDG meeting is slated for January 24th, possibly at NYU's Bobst > Library. > > -- > Peter Gammie > Cataloger, Reference Collection > The Pierpont Morgan Library > 29 East 36th Street > New York, NY 10016-3403 > > TEL: 212 685-0008, Ext. 329 > FAX: 212 685-4740 > NET: [log in to unmask] > > __________________________________________________________________ > Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] > Administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) > to [log in to unmask] > ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: > http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html > Questions may be addressed to list owner at: [log in to unmask] __________________________________________________________________ Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] Administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) to [log in to unmask] ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html Questions may be addressed to list owner at: [log in to unmask]