Hello both,
We use LCSH and MeSH at Cardiff. MeSH for our medical/health care libraries because it is more specific in certain aspects of medicine/healthcare than LCSH.
I don’t think I have ever had specific proper training on either – and I know when I started using LCSH I did wish I could attend a course to help me use it better, but I couldn’t find anything available at the time. As I have responsibility for the medical/healthcare cataloguing I use MeSH more often and am more comfortable with it (the opposite is probably true of my colleagues). Keeping up to date with it is a bit hit and miss though, as I never have time to fully review the annual updates.
It is also one of those things I have learnt on the job. As I used to work at the medical library (rather than in the cataloguing dept), I was also use to being aware of MeSH for Medline searches as well.
I do believe subject headings are very valuable, and as noted below are now getting used as facets in discovery tools. I believe they add an extra layer of discoverability to items. I certainly find them useful when checking for books in certain areas, but I am very aware that cataloguers are not your standard user!
Karen
Karen Pierce
Cataloguing Librarian
Cataloguing Department
University Library Service
Cardiff University
PO BOX 430
1st Floor
30-36 Newport Road
Cardiff
CF24 0DE
Tel: (029) 20875680
Email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Karen Pierce
Llyfrgellydd Catalogio
Adran Catalogio
Gwasanaeth Llyfrgell y Brifysgol
Prifysgol Cymru
PO BOX 430
Llawr 1af
30-36 Heol Casnewydd
Caerdydd
CF24 0DE
Ffôn: (029) 20875680
E-bost: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
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From: CIG E-Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bernadette O'Reilly
Sent: 26 November 2014 10:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CIG-E-FORUM] Session 3: Training II - special areas
Hello Helen
We also find that few of our users do sophisticated searches, but a simple, general search in our resource disccovery tool will bring up results from subject headings as well as from titles, etc. Particularly useful if the titles are in foreign languages. It also offers hyperlinks on access points, so users who have found a resource that suits them can click to find other material on the same subject.
Resource discovery tools also make extensive use of LCSH and similar for facets – the hierarchical structure is ideal for facets, and perhaps gives users the impression that the subject terms are better organised and assigned more systematically than they really are. A few years ago I was expecting LCSH to fade out of use – it can be so difficult to get everything just right that the results of subject searches are generally less reliable than one would wish, at the expense of a great deal of cataloguing time – but resource discovery tools seem to have given LCSH a new lease of life.
How valuable do other people think that LCSH are nowadays? Is there a better way?
Best wishes,
Bernadette
*******************
Bernadette O'Reilly
Catalogue Support Librarian
Bodleian Libraries,
Osney One Building
Osney Mead
Oxford OX2 0EW.
For cataloguing advice: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
For course enquiries (cataloguing, holdings & items): [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
For other correspondence: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
01865 2-77134
*******************
From: CIG E-Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Doyle, Helen
Sent: 26 November 2014 10:24
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [CIG-E-FORUM] Session 3: Training II - special areas
In my organisation we pay only cursory attention to what AACR2 says, and I don’t think we follow any rules for adding subjects to records. It’s usually just very board, and then we use a specialist classification scheme for shelving (Moys).
People rarely search the catalogue by subject (though maybe that’s because the subject headings are not great!) – they tend to turn up i8n the library in person and want to be pointed at the relevant section of shelving!
Helen.
From: CIG E-Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bernadette O'Reilly
Sent: 26 November 2014 09:56
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [CIG-E-FORUM] Session 3: Training II - special areas
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
*******************
Bernadette O'Reilly
Catalogue Support Librarian
Bodleian Libraries,
Osney One Building
Osney Mead
Oxford OX2 0EW.
For cataloguing advice: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
For course enquiries (cataloguing, holdings & items): [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
For other correspondence: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
01865 2-77134
*******************
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