Dear All,

Just catching up on yesterday’s discussion. Thought I’d highlight a training resource which I don’t think was mentioned. RIMMF (RDA in Many Metadata Formats) is a visualization tool for cataloguers to help them get used to thinking about RDA in a FRBR rather than AACR/MARC21 context. We ran staff sessions consisting of a demo followed by some hands on work as part of our RDA training in 2013.

RIMMF is freely available for download from TMQ (The MARC of Quality). Their web site can be found here: http://www.marcofquality.com/.  

Best wishes,

Thurstan

Thurstan Young,

Metadata Standards Analyst,

Metadata Standards,

Building 6, Floor 1,

British Library,

Boston Spa,

Wetherby,

West Yorkshire,

LS23 7BQ

Tel.: 01937 546213

Hello again

Welcome to the third session of the ‘Getting started in cataloguing’ e-forum.

As well as continuing threads from yesterday’s sessions, we invite your questions and ideas in this session about training and recruitment for special skills in cataloguing, such as subject cataloguing, classification, non-book materials and rare books.  I give a lot of training myself for LCSH and non-book materials (RDA/MARC).  I have to admit that I have no expertise in other subject thesauri, classification, Dewey or rare books, but I know a little about how my colleagues handle training in these areas.  Esther and Helen will be joining in when they can, and we hope that the experts among you will be able to offer specialised advice.

We have come up with some starter questions, but please feel free to introduce other topics:

- Can you recommend any training material for LCSH and/or other subject thesauri or methods?

- Can you recommend any training material for LC Classification or other classification systems?

- Is it practical and/or worthwhile for aspiring cataloguers to gain skills in cataloguing, classification or specialist areas before they apply for posts?

- Does your organisation expect everyone to deal with subject cataloguing and non-book cataloguing straight away, or do you give simpler work to newer cataloguers and introduce these skills gradually?

- If subject cataloguing is not a specialist role in your organisation, how do cataloguers cope with the challenges of maintaining a good repertoire from LCSH and/or other fast-growing thesauri?

- If your organisation uses LCSH, are cataloguers expected to be very strict in applying all the scope notes and SHM instruction sheets?  If not, what are your priorities?

- What, if anything, is your organisation doing to implement the new LCGFT thesaurus? Is there any training material which you would recommend?

- Do you expect the LCSH system to be as dominant in 5 years’ time as it is now?

- What other subject cataloguing systems should aspiring cataloguers be aware of?  What are their advantages?

- Is non-book cataloguing a specialist role in your organisation?

- How much use is your organisation making of the new 34X fields and what kind of training has been provided? Are your cataloguers comfortable about using them?  Can you recommend any materials?

- Has your organisation implemented RDA for rare books? If so, did it involve much re-training? Can you recommend any materials?

- Given the frequent changes and growth in cataloguing standards in recent years, is the burden of knowledge and skills expected of cataloguing staff becoming unmanageable?  Any survival tips?

We look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Bernadette

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Bernadette O'Reilly
Catalogue Support Librarian

Bodleian Libraries,
Osney One Building
Osney Mead
Oxford OX2 0EW.

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