Competency #5 LibraryThing Tagging

A library tag cloud gives a reader an idea of how other readers would label or classify the book. It is not a review although sometimes you can get an idea of what someone thought about the book. For example, in this cloud, someone said "unread workbook." I would think that to be a bit of commentary on the book or the person. :)

Here is the library tag cloud for Mysteries of Cataloging: a Workbook.

LibraryThing Tags: Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, Cataloging Library Science, lis 415 MARC formats own paperback reference specimens, textbook, unread workbook.

LibraryThing Link: http://www.librarything.com/work/31761

I chose Unlocking the Mysteries of Cataloging: a Workbook of Examples because it is a workbook. Cataloging is difficult to learn by just reading a textbook. One must do it to learn it. This workbook has exercises that allow practice in description, classification, subject analysis, and MARC 21. MARC records are provided for some 150 titles, and a supplemental Web site provides full keys and further details. I think this book would be a valuable resource for me as I learn more about cataloging, and as I train new catalogers.

Competency #4

OCLC offers RSS feed. OCLC Online Computer Library Center is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs. More than 60,000 libraries in 112 countries and territories around the world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve library materials. News coming directly from OCLC will be of interest to any cataloger. You can see current contents on the right side of my blog. The OCLC url is http://www.oclc.org/default.htm

Competency #3

I searched on youtube.com for a podcast having something to do with cataloging. I could not find a podcast specifically about cataloging, however, I did choose one which shows the finished product of the cataloger. A cataloger prepares the bibliographic records so that the patrons will be able to find what they are looking for. If it weren't for the work of the cataloger, the catalog would not be there, and searching for a book would be very time consuming. This podcast is called Anna Introduction Tutorial and can be found at http://www.youtube.com/woodroof61
It is a basic introduction to the Anna Catalog which serves several libraries. It takes the viewer step by step through the process of searching for an item using the catalog. This kind of tutorial is very helpful to someone who has not used the online catalog, or who is new to the particular library that uses this catalog.