REFERENCE SOURCES

Fondren Library Technical Services Homepage

             http://is.rice.edu/Fondren/Staff/ts.homepage.html

             The department’s own homepage contains resources accessible on-line.  The LCNA,   

OCLC’s Bibliographic Formats and Standards, US MARC code lists, and the CONSER

Editing Guide  are but a few of the useful references available through our homepage.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RESOURCES

Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, Second Edition, 1998 Revision (AACR2)

            AACR2 is the source of our rules for descriptive cataloging.  “The rules cover the description of, and the provision of access points for ... library materials” (p. 1)  It details when to use and how to determine the correct form of names and uniform titles.  The definitive glossary and rules governing capitalization, abbreviations, and use of numerals in catalog records are found in the appendices.

Library of Congress Rule Interpretations (LCRI)

            LCRI are interpretations of AACR2 for Library of Congress descriptive catalogers.  A cumulative index to current interpretations is published in each issue of Cataloging Service Bulletin.

Cataloging Service Bulletins (CSB)

            This quarterly publication of the Library of Congress incorporates revisions in both descriptive cataloging practice and subject cataloging usage. Each issue contains an index to all the current Library of Congress Rule Interpretations, the new interpretations, and revisions to the LC subject headings.

Index to the Library of Congress Cataloging Service Bulletin

            This supplies a subject index to the CSB through fall of 1996.

Library of Congress Classification Schedules

            In these schedules and in their Additions and Changes the classification scheme of LC is set forth.  The P schedule is accompanied by a separate volume of tables, Language and Literature Tables, with its own Additions and Changes.  Many of the other schedules contain tables to be applied to their class numbers.

Dick, Gerald K.  LC Author Numbers.

            In this guide to numbers assigned by LC to literary authors entries include indication of literary tables for prolific authors.

Subject Cataloging Manual: Shelflisting

            A set of guidelines for shelflisting library materials in the ... Library of Congress,” this offers guidance on creating call numbers. 

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)

            LCSH lists the subject headings used at the Library of Congress. The introduction to volume I contains a discussion of subject headings, references, subdivisions, and pattern headings.  The quarterly CSB (see above) updates the annual edition with revisions to the LCSH and lists of subject headings of current interest.  The most current listing is LCSH Online, which we access via OCLC.

Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings (the Manual)

            The Manual contains the instructions used by subject catalogers at LC in order to understand and to apply subject headings correctly. The publication Free-Floating Subdivisions: An Alphabetical Index serves as an index to the free-floating subdivisions in the Manual. The CSB (see above) contains information on the most important topics which have been changed since the latest edition of the Manual. 

Free-Floating Subdivisions: An Alphabetical Index

            This list is an index to the free-floating subdivisions in the Subject Cataloging Manual, including a listing for each subdivision of the free-floating lists where it appears.  It also contains citations for subdivisions with specific instruction sheets in the Subject Cataloging Manual.

LC Period Subdivisions under Names of Places

            Compiled from the online subject authority database at LC, this list contains only those time period subdivisions for materials which are in LC and "is, therefore, a list which is continually being revised." The Preface contains a useful general discussion of period subdivision.

National Union Catalog (NUC)

            Beginning with the Pre-1956 Imprints (known as "Mansell" for its publisher) and continuing through 1982, "the National Union Catalog represents the works cataloged by the Library of Congress and by the libraries contributing to its cooperative cataloging program during the period of its coverage."  Use as a possible source for cataloging of older works when they are not to be found in OCLC, but keep in mind the cataloging may not conform to current rules.

OCLC RESOURCES

Librarian’s Toolbox

            http://www.oclc.org/navigation/toolbox/

Provides links to most of the OCLC cataloging documentation including Technical Bulletins and online error-reporting forms.  

Guide Started with Searching World Cat : an OCLC Tutorial

            http://www.oclc.org/oclc/tutorial/gs/index.htm

Authorities User Guide

            http://www.oclc.org/oclc/man/5411aug/frameset.htm

            The  Authorities User Guide is a reference manual for use with the OCLC authority file in the PRISM service contains information on searching, reading, and tagging authority records.

Cataloging User Guide

            http://www.oclc.org/connexion/documentation/guide/

            This is a reference manual for use when cataloging in the PRISM service.  OCLC suggests using the OCLC Workbook to learn how to use PRISM.

Bibliographic Formats and Standards (BFS)  (available on the Tech. Services Homepage) or

            http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/

            This manual describes the format and tagging for MARC records in OCLC.  Codes and usage for fixed fields are detailed. It contains information concerning the scope, indicators, and usage for each of the fixed and variable fields.  It provides standards for input of MARC records, both original and retrospective cataloging bibliographic records, into the OCLC online union catalog.  It contains guidelines for when to input a new record, when and how to upgrade a minimum level record, and  report corrections.

OCLC-MARC Code Lists (available on the Tech. Services Homepage) or

            http://www.oclc.org/oclc/man/code/codetoc.htm

Technical Bulletins

            http://www.oclc.org/technicalbulletins/

            These are issued when necessary to communicate current information – including revisions to the Bibliographic Formats and Standards – to OCLC users.     

OCLC List of Online Documentation

            http://www2.oclc.org/documentation/

OTHER RESOURCES

Merrill, William Stetson.  Code for Classifiers: Principles Governing the Consistent Placing of Books in a System of Classification.

            This code of  “the principles by which books are to be assigned consistently and suitably to places in a system of book classification,” contains general principles and also codifies "widespread procedure in the classifying of books of certain types or ...topics."

Rand McNally Commercial Atlas and Marketing Guide

            Used for current place names in the United States. Shelved with reference atlases - G1019 .R28.

Saye, Jerry D. and Vellucci, Sherry L.  Notes in the Catalog Record: Based on AACR2 and LC Rule Interpretations.

            A collection and analysis of notes includes for each type of note (language, source of title proper, contents, etc.) the AACR2 rules, the LC policy, brief discussion, and  examples.

Webster's New Geographical Dictionary

            An alphabetical listing of place names worldwide.

Geographic Names Information System

            GNIS is the official repository of domestic geographic names information.  Find it at http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/www/gnis/gnisform.html\\

                                                                                                                   Rev. 3/8/99       4a