Cataloging Futures

ALCTS developing an online cataloging class

Over at Nearly There Librarian, Jordan Fields, an intern for the Association of Library Collections & Technical Services at the American Library Association (ALCTS) gives a nice overview of the web courses being offered by ALCTS.

Turns out they are developing a new course, Fundamentals of Cataloging.

So far all of these classes have been very popular, usually filling up. Later this year we will be offering even more frequent sessions of FOA, FCDM, and FERA. There is also a new course, Fundamentals of Cataloging, that is in the works. I’ve read through the first draft of the course, and right now it’s looking to be on par with the cataloging class that I took at Syracuse.

Another positive of these courses is the price. As anyone taking classes from a university knows, education is not cheap. ALCTS classes are a great bargain at $109 for ALCTS members and $129 for non-members.

Free access to ALA's American Libraries Direct and more ...

Some important news about American Libraries:

1. Our weekly e-newsletter, American Libraries Direct, is now available to anyone who wants to sign up for it, not just ALA members. The sign-up form, as well as the FAQ, is at http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/aldirect/aldirect.cfm .

2. American Libraries has launched its own blog, AL Inside Scoop. Editor-in-chief Leonard Kniffel offers an insider’s view of goings-on at ALA headquarters and what hot topics ALA staffers are talking about in the hallways. Associate Editor Greg Landgraf offers his perspective from “the lower floors” of what many see as the ALA ivory tower.

3. Login is no longer required to view the current issue of the American Libraries print magazine online (in PDF format), or to view the archives, which date back to the January 2003 issue. Go directly to http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/alonlineebrary/alonlineebrary.cfm . First-time viewers will need to install the ebrary reader to view issues. To download, go to http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ala/Download . Firefox 3 users installing the reader for the first time will need a workaround, http://www.ebrary.com/kb/users/ff3install.jsp , to make the ebrary reader work with their browser.

Via George M. Eberhart, Editor, American Libraries Direct

ALA President-Elect and the Future of LC Cataloging

Yesterday, the American Library Association (ALA) issued this press release. Some excerpts:

On Wednesday, October 24, American Library Association (ALA) President-elect Jim Rettig will testify before the U.S. House of Representatives' House Administration Committee at an oversight hearing on the Library of Congress.

Traditionally, the Library of Congress has served as a de facto national library, upon which thousands of libraries across the country rely for bibliographic records and services to the blind and physically handicapped, among other things. Countless users rely on the Library's records every day to find the books and materials they need.

“The diminution of the quality and quantity of Library of Congress cataloging has had an enormous financial impact on the nation's libraries,” Rettig states. “Cataloging that the Library previously provided must now be performed by multiple libraries, often doing duplicative work, thereby wasting tax dollars.”

“ALA strongly recommends that the Library of Congress return to its former practice of broad and meaningful consultation prior to making significant changes to cataloging policy.”

UPDATE: Here's a link to Rettig's complete testimony [PDF].

Via District Dispatch