Sage Cataloging Committee Meeting Minutes – February 7, 2022
Recording Link –> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1of6kGhwC8c
Attendees (17)
Celine Vandervlugt (La Grande, chair), Beth Ross (Sage), John Brockman (Baker County), Ann Zuehlke (Hood River Schools), Christine Ostberg (Grant County), Dea Nowell (UCSLD), Heather Estrada (BMCC), Heather Spry (Baker County), Jon Georg (Sage), Laurie O’Connor (Harney County), Leslie Carlock (Harney County), Lisa Hauner (OTLD), Lynda Swarts (Josephy), Maribel Pagan (KCC), Michelle Timmons (Elgin), Sarah Samuels (Hood River), Tracy Hayes (Lake County)
December Minutes
Motion to approve (Dea Nowell), Second (Heather Spry). Minutes were approved with two corrections: 1) The adjourn time, and 2) the wording was revised in the Z39.50 DVD importing section to refer to the Author field when searching Production company/Distributor, rather than the Keyword field.
General Comments/Questions
Beth reminded everyone that the latest Oregon Blue Book has been released, and that the Sage catalog has a serial record for this item. When attaching your copy to the record, please include part information that denotes the correct years.
New Business
Board Books
New genre term for board books! Library of Congress has finally authorized this term for use in the Genre/Form thesaurus (LCGFT). Instead of the previous workaround, please make sure that your MARC text looks like this from now on:
655_7 $aBoard books.$2lcgft
LitF Fixed Field
Because the OPAC treats each of the codes in LitF independently, there is a potential problem with entering “f” in this field for novels. While technically correct (if the item is indeed a novel), a patron OPAC search for “fiction” will not return these items in a search. If a patron knows to select both of these options in the search box (by Control-clicking on PC, or Command-clicking on Mac), then the search will return both groups of items. Several catalogers voiced that they change “f” to “1” on import to avoid this problem.
This will also occur with nonfiction forms as well (e.g. poetry, essays, etc.), although it was determined that the distinction among LitF codes while searching in nonfiction is more desirable than in fiction.
Beth will research whether it is possible to facilitate hierarchical searching, so that a search for “fiction” would include all of the other fiction LitF codes.
It was noted that in place of the LitF search box, patrons can also retrieve results scoped to a particular form or genre by doing subject or keyword searches (e.g. “juvenile fiction”). Another option is to use the Sage-wide “Library” searches at the top of the “Search Library” box, which is collocated by shelving locations rather than MARC data.
Audn Fixed Field
The audience fixed field debate continues! In addition to the same issue as LitF, it was noted that our current practice in Sage of limiting the use of “e” in Audn to explicit or mature content only, is “going against the tide” of standard cataloging practice. Catalogers are frequently noticing when they import records that “e” in Audn is being used more according to the definition on OCLC’s page: “this item is intended for adults” rather than is only for adults.
It was noted that this might not be a significant hinderance to patron searching as previously thought, as the public is not able to use this information in their OPAC searching with the absence of this searching box. Rather, it is more helpful to patrons to use the groups established in the Library Search box, as a far more effective way to limit searches to an appropriate audience level. However, the children’s OPAC does rely on information coded in Audn, as records with blank or “e” will not show up in the Children’s OPAC.
Nothing was decided formally, but the issue will be tabled for further discussion at a later meeting, and catalogers are encouraged to contact Celine with their positions on the issue.
Update on cataloging classes
Sage has worked in the past with the Nebraska Library Commission in obtaining MARC21 and Copy Cataloging training for Sage catalogers. Heather Spry has been in communication with Shoshana at the NLC who has shared material that we will hopefully be able to use for CAT3 catalogers in Sage to progress to CAT2. We are optimistic that this will be a cost-effective and viable solution for catalogers to get the training they need. In the meantime, Sage mentors are willing to help get records into the system for libraries who have staff that are waiting for this training. Those catalogers should contact Beth, Celine, or their mentor.
Library of Things
In an effort to provide some consistency for items that are very challenging to catalog, Sage has established the following guidelines for libraries who are building a “Library of things” collection. A Library of things usually includes nontraditional library items that only circulate at that corresponding library or branch. Examples may include cake pans, sewing machines, games, etc.
- Use marc type “r” for consistency even if kit-like
- Include name of library in square brackets after the title to more easily identify who it belongs to. We are recommending separate bibs for each library at this time to facilitate holds placement and make it easier for patrons to find
- Use a 246 for additional access points for the patron
- Use the 250 for things like a model number if applicable
- Use 264 \3 for manufacturer
- You can utilize inch measurements in the 300 $c if that is preferable for patrons
- Don’t include a separate 33x for pamphlets, leaflets, or instructions
- Choose the 999 that most closely matches the item. Those in the template are an example
- Make sure to include 999 $flot to allow searching by item type Library of Things
- When cataloging the item, circulation modifiers “Library of Things” and “Library of Things renew” can be used to help drive circulation and hold policies. This involves coordination with Sage systems staff to create the policies
Things for libraries to consider:
- Is the item so unusual/unique that it doesn’t fit into regular formats?
- Do you want the item to circulate through ILL?
- Do you want to allow your patrons to place holds or renew?
- Do you want it to circ for 1, 2 or 3 weeks?
- How do you assume patrons will search for it in the catalog?
There is a Library of things template available with the other MARC templates to use as a starting guide. Please note that any subfield in the template that includes punctuation (e.g. 264, 300) will stay in the created record if not deleted. So, catalogers should delete them if they do not use them. Subfields without punctuation in them (e.g. 300 $e) will be deleted automatically if unused.
Demo of Angular catalog
The next upgrade of the Evergreen software will include a much different interface (Angular is the name of the web framework) in terms of look and feel, although the functionality will be very similar. For those that use CatExpress, the interface will look very similar. Before plans for the migration can occur, Beth and Jon will set up a test server at EOU.
Interested in applying for CAT2 or CAT1?
Contact your mentor or John Brockman at cataloger@bakerlib.org
Meeting was adjourned at 12:00 PM PST.