When a cataloger is torn between two lovers!

By: Jolo Van Clyde S. Abatayo, RL





Why is it hard to be a cataloger? Why is it that choosing wisely is very important if you want to become one? 

Just like in the song: MAHAL KO O MAHAL AKO?

In this article, I've picked the top 3 choices that only catalogers understand! Are you ready? Here they are:

DDC or LCC?

          Here in the Philippines we still argue what classification scheme to use. Others would love to use DDC because it’s easier and they’ve been using it since then. On the other hand, LCC is already making a revolution because more and more libraries here in the country prefer this system.

          Let’s go back to the basics. We all know that DDC uses pure notation while LCC uses mixed notation. DDC uses decimals while LCC uses alphabets and decimals. Equally, these schemes are actually okay but if we base it on the size of the collection, DDC is divided into 10 broad classes and LCC has 21 classes. In other words, DDC is more suitable for libraries with smaller collections because it limits the number and variety of call numbers that can be assigned to books. On the other hand, LCC allows you to produce more call numbers needed for a massive number of books owned by larger libraries. Got it?

AACR or RDA?

The Problems with AACR2

• It’s multifaceted! It’s hard to understand!
• There is no consistent structure! GMD? No way! It mixes content and carrier data!
• Hierarchical and other important relationships are not satisfactorily addressed
• The term “Anglo-American” says it loud and clear! TOO OLD!
• It’s older than the FRBR entity-relationship conceptual model! What an old hag!
• There is not enough support for the ‘collocation’ function of cataloging
• We are now in the world of Internet and well-formed metadata or vocabularies! How could you still want to use it?
• It’s not user-friendly!

Why RDA?

• Our cataloging environment is progressively more Web-based! Let’s be more 21^st century-ish!
• More and more librarians nowadays are already knowledgeable about metadata! MARC format is the trend, you know!
• We’re flooded with too much information carriers and contents so we need to catalog with poise and bearing! Chop! Chop!
• To survive in the digital world of cataloging, we need RDA! Okay?
• It’s easier to use and interpret!
• FRBR and RDA are genuine friends!
• Always remember, according to the International Cataloguing Principles, when providing bibliographic descriptions and access points, the users must be considered and these factors must be addressed:

o   The convenience of the user

o   Representation

o   Common usage

o   Accuracy

o   Sufficiency and necessity

o   Significance

o   Economy

o   Consistency and standardization

o   Integration

o   Defensible, not arbitrary

Cutter-Sanborn Four-Figure Table or Cutter Four-Figure Table?

• Choose the Cutter-Sanborn Four-Figure Table if your existing cutter numbers include only a single letter with numbers.

Examples:

Adams, John: A2145

Adams, Ruth: A2169

Gabel, Linda: G112

Lavoie, Brian: L4141

O'Neill, Edward: O5871

United States. Dept. of the Interior: U5864

• Choose the Cutter Four-Figure Table if your existing cutter numbers include a mix of one or two letters with numbers.

Examples:

Adams, John: Ad185

Adams, Ruth: Ad194

Gabel, Linda: G111

Lavoie, Brian: L395

O'Neill, Edward: On26

United States. Dept. of the Interior: Un365

• Double Cuttering

Note: Double Cuttering is more suitable for LCC, I guess!

·        If you use Cutter numbers to arrange alphabetically by topic (e.g. name of biographee), you may then add a second Cutter number for the author’s name.

·        As with all forms of subarrangement, Double Cuttering is not part of DDC proper

Example of double Cuttering

§  Biography of forester Emile Grandjean

§  Grandjean : man of the forests

By Gordon S. Bowen

§  634.9092

§  .G764B6754

Speed your classification efforts by downloading the Dewey Cutter Program of OCLC!

The Dewey Cutter Program is a software program that automatically provides cutter numbers from the OCLC Four-Figure Cutter Tables (Cutter Four-Figure Table and Cutter-Sanborn Four-Figure Table) upon input of text. It works with most Windows versions and enhances your classification efficiency. It does not work with Macintosh computers.

Download now
Read installation and use instructions

I hope you have learned a lot from this article. Choosing is never easy but if you are wise enough to spot the difference, you can always make a difference! 

Happy Cataloging! 

References:

Harrry, T. (2004). Comparing LC and Dewey. Retrieved last March 8, 2018 from

http://home.olemiss.edu/~tharry/LC/LCvsDDC.html

Carlton, T. & Zoom, J. (2012). RDA: Module 1--Introduction to RDA; Identifying 

            Manifestations and Items. Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/catworkshop/

Photo Credits:

https://payforessay.net/topics-for-dissertation