Course ID: 300063

The Cheater's Guide to Cataloguing

Whether it's on a computer or 3 x 5 cards, a library's catalogue is one of its most important communication tools ... informing patrons about available materials and guiding them to the correct shelf location. But like all good tools, creating a catalogue takes time, which is often in short supply. And there's always that time-consuming impossible book on an unfamiliar topic, with five people waiting eagerly to sign it out. This session will cover ways to streamline your cataloguing without compromising searchability, free online tools that can make a cataloguer's life easier, and tips for tracking down catalogue copy (or its equivalent) online for those items that keep moving to the bottom of the to-do pile.

• basic description and marc fields ... what's really essential and what can be safely ignored or left until later
• free tools online and other useful links
• catalogue copy/marc online ... finding it, downloading it, and what to do when you can't download
• when all else fails ... using Google to track down catalogue copy
• the joy of cheat sheets
• improve your subject heading knowledge ... games you can play with other libraries' online catalogues
• you're not alone ... help and other cataloguers online
• practical applications ... bring along a couple of your cataloguing problems to practice on

*This session is updated before each workshop

Includes:
30 days email support
handouts

Additional Options:
use your Macintosh