Cover Image

Preliminary LC Records for Monographs in OCLC

Saved in:
Published in:Information Technology and Libraries vol. 11, no. 1 (Mar 1992), p. 3-9
Main Author: Preece, Barbara G
Other Authors: Fox, Mary Anne
Published:
American Library Association
Subjects:
Southern Illinois University Library of Congress Online Computer Library Center > OCLC
United States > US
Statistical data
Libraries
Impacts
Case studies
Polls & surveys
Databases
Information industry
Language
AACR2
Monographs
Academic libraries
Bibliographic control
Data processing
Library cataloging
Humanities
Bibliographic records
Records management
Social studies
Internet
Cataloging
Archives & records
Legislatures
Decisions
Shared Resources and Services
Library Services
Research Libraries
Bibliographic Databases
Online Access:Citation/Abstract
Full Text
Full Text - PDF
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Abstract:Online Computer Library Center's (OCLC) decision to load Library of Congress (LC) preliminary cataloging for monographs into the online union catalog resulted in the addition of a significant number of these records to the database over the 15-month period before the project was suspended in March 1991. A description is given of the problems experienced in dealing with these items by the cataloging staff of a medium-sized research library. The data are from a project at Morris Library at Southern Illinois University. The problems illustrate why the project came to an abrupt end. Twenty percent of initial searches yielded Level 5 records that duplicated member input full (or minimal-level) cataloging. Catalogers discovered that items with Level 5 records required almost as much time to catalog as those without copy. In addition, the heads of cataloging at 57 Association of Research Libraries institutions in the US were asked what they thought of Level 5 records. Their responses revealed that the records created more work, especially for higher level staff.
ISSN:0730-9295
0022-2240
Source:ABI/INFORM Global