Cataloging and Classification

Book excerpt: Cataloging and Classification: Trends, Transformations, Teaching, and Training indicates and describes significant trends in cataloging and classification--the practices, services, management, principles, professional education and training, and employment prospects. This is the resource everyone can use to keep their cataloging and classification skills sharp. It gives librarians and information professionals awareness of important innovations likely to change the way they do their job, enables library directors and managers to do longer-range planning, and provides library school faculty and students with insight into new developments and approaches with which they need to be familiar. Cataloging and Classification: Trends, Transformations, Teaching, and Training will increase your awareness and insight into current developments in the field. In turn, this leads to: an appropriate integration and exploration of technologies, systems, and tools better deployment of personnel and expertise more efficient and relevant user-sensitive cataloging and classification, faster and more effective preparation and searching of catalogs more efficient and relevant library school courses and training sequences greater appreciation by library personnel and library users of the value of catalogs and classifications Cataloging and Classification: Trends, Transformations, Teaching, and Training is presented in three main categories: The Cataloger, The Future of Classification Systems, and New Technology and Its Implications. Specific topics you'll read about include the use of vendor services and nontraditional staff for cataloging; recommendations for a syndetic curricular structure; the call to raise classification and subject analysis to more usable and sophisticated levels; an action agenda for technical services in the digital age; and an evaluation of the capabilities of OPACs made possible by advances in technology.