Cataloging & Classification Course

Lesson 1 • The Catalog as a Finding Tool

Examines how catalogs serve users and institutions. Traces the evolution from card catalogs to online public access catalogs.

Lesson 2 • Bibliographic Relationships and Entities

Introduces the conceptual entities—work, expression, manifestation, item—underlying modern cataloging. Prepares students for entity-based descriptive standards.

Lesson 3 • Introduction to Classification Systems

Surveys major classification schemes and their organizing principles. Connects classification logic to physical and virtual arrangement of collections.

Lesson 1 • Quality Control in Description

Establishes standards for reviewing and correcting bibliographic records. Introduces error typologies and systematic review workflows.

Lesson 2 • Resource Description and Access Basics

Introduces RDA as the current descriptive standard and its underlying principles. Applies RDA instructions to common monograph cataloging tasks.

Lesson 3 • Cataloging Non-Print Materials

Extends descriptive practice to audiovisual, digital, and cartographic resources. Addresses format-specific elements and carrier descriptions.

Lesson 4 • Cataloging Monographs and Serials

Applies descriptive rules to books and continuing resources with distinct challenges. Highlights serial-specific elements such as numbering and frequency.

Lesson 1 • Holdings and Item-Level Fields

Introduces MARC holdings format fields for location, call number, and copy data. Connects holdings records to circulation and inventory functions.

Lesson 2 • Record Import, Export, and Validation

Covers batch import of MARC records from vendors and utilities and validation workflows. Addresses common encoding errors and normalization practices.

Lesson 3 • MARC 21 Record Structure

Explains the leader, directory, and variable fields that constitute a MARC record. Connects MARC structure to data exchange and system processing.

Lesson 4 • Bibliographic Fields for Description

Maps descriptive elements to their corresponding MARC fields and subfields. Covers title, edition, publication, and physical description fields.

Lesson 1 • Uniform Titles and Work Identifiers

Constructs authorized access points for works and expressions using uniform titles. Addresses anonymous classics, translations, and musical works.

Lesson 2 • Personal and Corporate Name Headings

Applies RDA instructions to establish authorized forms of personal and corporate names. Covers variant name recording and relationship designators.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Authority Control

Explains why authority control prevents duplicate and variant access points. Connects authority work to improved search precision for users.

Lesson 1 • Genre and Form Terms

Distinguishes genre and form terms from topical subject headings. Applies genre and form vocabularies to fiction, media, and special collections.

Lesson 2 • Library of Congress Subject Headings

Applies LCSH syntax rules to construct valid subject heading strings. Covers main headings, subdivisions, and their permitted combinations.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Subject Analysis

Introduces the intellectual process of determining what a resource is about. Distinguishes topic, form, geographic, and temporal aspects of subject content.

Lesson 4 • Subject Heading Consistency and Review

Establishes practices for auditing subject heading assignments across a collection. Addresses heading obsolescence, updates, and retrospective changes.

Lesson 1 • Using DDC Schedules

Guides students through reading and applying schedule instructions and notes. Covers standard subdivisions and their automatic application rules.

Lesson 2 • Cutter Numbers and Shelf Arrangement

Constructs Cutter numbers to individualize call numbers within a class. Explains filing rules and practical shelf-arrangement decisions.

Lesson 3 • Number Building with Auxiliary Tables

Applies DDC auxiliary tables to extend base numbers for geography, language, and form. Practices multi-step number synthesis for complex topics.

Lesson 4 • DDC Structure and Organization

Maps the ten main classes, divisions, and sections of DDC. Explains the hierarchical notation system and its role in shelf arrangement.

Lesson 1 • LCC Cutter Numbers and Call Number Completion

Constructs complete LCC call numbers including Cutter, date, and work marks. Applies LC Cutter tables and local practice variations.

Lesson 2 • Comparing DDC and LCC in Practice

Analyzes the strengths and limitations of DDC and LCC for different collection types. Guides selection decisions based on institutional context.

Lesson 3 • LCC Structure and Schedules

Introduces the alphabetic-numeric notation and schedule organization of LCC. Explains how individual schedules are selected and read.

Lesson 4 • Applying LCC to Humanities and Social Sciences

Practices classification in literature, history, and social science schedules. Addresses geographic and language facets within these schedules.

Lesson 1 • Copy Cataloging Workflows

Defines copy cataloging and the decision process for accepting or modifying existing records. Covers searching bibliographic utilities and evaluating record quality.

Lesson 2 • Cooperative Cataloging Programs

Surveys shared cataloging networks and their contribution and quality standards. Explains membership, contribution workflows, and governance structures.

Lesson 3 • Cataloging Policy and Procedure Manuals

Explains how institutions document local cataloging decisions and exceptions. Guides students in drafting and maintaining a cataloging policy manual.

Lesson 4 • Productivity and Workflow Efficiency

Introduces tools and techniques for increasing cataloging throughput without sacrificing quality. Covers macro use, batch processing, and workload metrics.