So much to learn about cataloguing that I had no idea about!
After having to
construct my own MARC records for an assignment (okay, I tried to construct), I
would definitely look at alternative options for obtaining cataloguing records.
One thing I wondered is that many libraries pay for access to MARC records. I
am wondering why, for example, an elementary school library would do this if
the MARC records are available for free from LOC or VPL? Is this type of copy
cataloguing permissible? I also wonder if the purchase of MARC records is more
of an issue for highschool and post secondary institutions? Or at the district
level because of the volume of books that have to be entered? If this is the
case, then I can see why they would want to purchase the cataloguing
information from a supplier for the ease, and to also maintain some sort of
continuity.
I have to admit that
I am relieved that our district has district-level personnel to deal with
cataloguing of new books. Although, I agree that it is useful to have an
understanding of MARC records, and have the ability to modify the catalogue
information to suit the environment of the school.
One thing that surprised
me, was the suggestion to “select a jobber and buy all your materials from one
source. However if you buy locally, keep
in mind that you may not be getting quality, library bindings on your books.” I
didn’t realize until recently that quality could be an issue. The TL at my
daughter’s school decided to buy some books for the library, and found that
many of them were falling apart after a short period of time. So I can see
where it would be worthwhile to find out from other TL’s quality suppliers –
jobbers - and go with that. Sometimes the prices may be a little more, but
perhaps the books will last longer.
Jobbers:
Follett's Titlewave:
Searching through some of the materials, I notice that there are many
suggestions to “Find materials tied to state and common core standards for…” (retrieved
from http://www.flr.follett.com/intro/firstchoice_elem.html)
which is great for educators in the states, but not for Canada. It looks like a
great resource for the broad spectrum of resources available, but I wonder how
many people in Canada use this resource. I wonder what the shipping costs and
customs costs are? I don’t know if the cost savings would be enough to justify
ordering from there – but I have no experience in this area either.
United Library
Services: I like to promote services that are Canadian! The store down in
Burnaby looks like one that I would like to visit. If it is designed
specifically for school libraries, then I would think that the books are
designed to last, and not fall apart after a few uses! I also like the fact that
the company is flexible to those visiting the warehouse: “Our showrooms are
open to school & library staff during our regular warehouse hours of operation.
No appointment is necessary. If our advertised openings are inconvenient for
you, please call us to arrange a time better suited to your needs” (retrieved
from : http://www.uls.com/ULS/index2.jsp).
Customer service is another key aspect for me!
One of the key
pieces of advice that stuck out for me was: “Consider if you can purchase
locally at a competitive price. For some major items the service and support
that accompany a purchase are as critical as the purchased items. For example,
some jobbers pay shipping while others may not, some publishers offer free
processing while others charge for the service. Decisions of where to purchase
must include the total package: item, shipping, processing if applicable, and
any other available support/services needed” (Module 10 lesson). This makes
sense, as I even use this advice when I am shopping for myself. If I can buy
locally, I will. If I can purchase something online, I will double check on the
cost of shipping and handling to see if it will end up still costing less, or
possibly more.
OCLC – I spent some
time going through this site, just trying to figure out exactly what it
entails. It seems like there is a wealth of information to be discovered, but I
am not quite sure how to access it. One of the videos describes how WorldCat
will become WorldShare in Feb 2013, so that is a change that will be coming up
soon. I also discovered a bit about interlibrary loans, which I am guessing is
a large part of WorldShare, I am also not sure of the distinction between
WorldCat/WorldShare and OCLC. I would imagine there involves some sort of
subscription/membership for this service, but looks to be quite extensive in its
world wide access to library materials. If this is a site that provides
cataloguing for books, then adhering to a standard would be beneficial for
continuity, as long as that standard is suitable for the school that is using
it.
Z39.50. Also another
term I am not familiar with, but in the definition, the statement that stood
out for me was: “used to search several sources simultaneously and integrate
the results.” (ODLIS) The definition from the LOC site states, “Z39.50 is a
national and international (ISO 23950) standard defining a protocol for
computer-to-computer information retrieval.” My best understanding is if
information can be passed quickly and accurately between computers, then this
would be desirable.
As far as allowing
uncatalogued material to be circulated, I have never worked in a library, so I
am really not sure of the ramifications. Personally, if I had some new material
that came in, and a teacher saw it, and could see the usefulness of it to his/her
class the next day, then I would probably let that teacher borrow it. I would
quickly have the teacher note the title and other basic info, the date, and I
would specify a time frame when it needs to be back. Once it comes back, then I
could catalogue it properly. However, I am unsure if I would have the same response
if it was an elementary student, unless the resource was going to stay within
the walls of the library.
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