Bibliographic Standards Committee

Current and Forthcoming Preconference Seminars & Workshops

See also: Past Preconference Seminars & Workshops

2008 Anaheim Preconference Seminar
"Applying Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (Books)"

Deborah J. Leslie

Status: Proposed

The Bibliographic Standards Committee proposes to present a preconference seminar on the application of Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (Books) (DCRM(B)).

Audience: The seminar will be geared toward catalogers experienced in using Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Books (DCRB), and will focus on the main differences between DCRB and DCRM(B).

Method: The speaker will start with an overview of the principles guiding the revision, and proceed to discuss new sections and changed rules. This will involve discussion of specific MARC fields and tags, along with "before and after" catalog records. Questions will be encouraged during the course of the presentation, rather than reserving a Q&A session at the end.

Objective: To provide training in DCRM(B) and encourage development of best practices

Equipment: Laptop projection with Powerpoint, or a document camera. A microphone would be desirable.

Moderator: Randal S. Brandt
Speaker: Deborah J. Leslie, with support from other DCRM editors

2007 Baltimore Preconference Workshop
"Cataloging Ephemera"

Ann W. Copeland

Status: Sold out

Cataloging and Organizing Ephemera
The Johns Hopkins University
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sponsored by the RBMS Bibliographic Standards Committee

The presence of ephemeral materials in our collections is a credit to those selectors and curators with the insight to realize the cultural value of such artifacts. But collections of ephemera present unique challenges to catalogers, and in the absence of usable guidelines for their description, they often languish, uncataloged.

Ephemera collections vary in condition, content, format, historical importance, and size. They may include rare and unique artifacts or more commonly produced items exhaustively collected on a particular subject or in a specific format. Whether the individual items should be described in detail or whether one record will represent an entire collection is an important decision. A finding aid may be required to put everything in context, including acquisition and processing information, provenance, scope, etc. But what are the factors to consider in reaching such treatment decisions?

This full day workshop will provide participants with an understanding of the pre-cataloging decisions to be made and the relevant factors to consider when cataloging ephemera. Through presentations, discussion, and hands-on exercises using a variety of ephemera, the workshop will present various options for controlling these important materials (item level vs. collection level treatment; AACR2 vs. DCRM(B); finding aids; digital collections.) Participants will receive a packet of resources for creating MARC catalog records in accordance with existing standards and rules.

Participants should be familiar with AACR2 and have some experience cataloging special collections materials. Class size is limited to 20 registrants.

Instructors: Eleanor Brown, Cornell University; Ann Copeland, Penn State University; Todd Fell, Yale University; Jane Gillis, Yale University; Stephen Skuce, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Registration Fee: $75

2007 Preconference Seminar, Baltimore
Cataloging of Special Collections Materials in an Organizational Context

Beth M. Whittaker

Status: Firm

The cataloging of special collections material has changed in response to several trends, including technological changes in cataloging workflows, an increased emphasis on mainstreaming special collections in larger libraries, and organizational cultures which continually seek efficiencies. This seminar will address the placement of special collections cataloging (part of a cataloging department, a special collections department or some other arrangement), and will explore the issues that arise from this decision in a larger organizational context.

The introduction will summarize organizational issues in special collections cataloging and explain why the placement of this function merits consideration. Data from a recent study of ARL libraries will be used to illustrate trends and also discuss interesting comments from practitioners.

A case study will highlight specific questions or problems that have been encountered by colleagues. While similarities among organizations will no doubt be evident, the case study and discussion will move beyond “show and tell” to examine the larger questions of where and how best to administer cataloging in a rapidly changing environment, as well as ways in which cataloging can succeed regardless of organization structure. The need for creativity in dealing with personnel and assignments will also be addressed.

Finally, a former senior library administrator will share his perspective, as well as discuss how individuals can influence organizational structure (formally or informally) for the betterment of the whole.

This seminar will be of interest to special collections librarians and staff, administrators of special collections and technical services, and those interested in trends in library management.

Introduction and Overview

Beth M. Whittaker, Head, Special Collections Cataloging, The Ohio State University.

Case study

Margaret Nichols, Head, Special Materials Unit, Library Technical Services, Cornell University.

Administrator’s perspective

William Gosling, Curator, Children’s Literature Collection and former University Librarian, University of Michigan

Questions and discussion

2007 Preconference Seminar, Baltimore

Demonstration of the Hand Press Book (HPB) Database and the Latin American Short-Title Catalogue (CCILA)

Moderator: E.C. Schroeder

Status: Firm

2007 MAGERT Preconference, Washington D.C.

MAGERT, the Map and Geography Round Table of the American Library Association (ALA), is pleased to announce that it will be offering the following preconference at the ALA Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, in June 2007, with the co-sponsorship of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS), the Government Documents Round Table (GODORT), and the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS):

Rare, antiquarian, or just plain old: cataloging pre-twentieth century cartographic resources

Thursday, June 21, 2007, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
and Friday, June 22, 2007, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

This two-day workshop, hosted by the Library of Congress, will introduce participants to the cataloging of pre-twentieth century cartographic resources through instruction and hands-on activities with sheet maps, atlas plates, and atlases, ranging from manuscript to printed items. Addressing issues pertinent to early materials in general, instructors will also discuss relevant characteristic aspects of cartographic resources by era. The course will progress through the elements of description, with examples focusing on such issues as transcription, mathematical data, and supportive research. Registration will be limited to 50 participants.

Speakers

Tickets

Advance: MAGERT Member: $335; ALA Member: $395; Non-Member: $455; Student/Retired Member: $200

Other ideas for future preconferences include promotional literature/ephemera; repeat of the Latin cataloging workshop. Other ideas always welcome.