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Fundamentals of Library of Congress Classification

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Fundamentals of Library of Congress Classification Fundamentals of Library of Congress Classification Editors: Lori Robare, University of Oregon Steven Arakawa, Yale University Paul Frank, Library of Congress Bruce Trumble, Harvard University Developed by the ALCTS/CCS-PCC Task Force on Library of Congress Classification Training Lori Robare, University of Oregon, Chair Steven Arakawa, Yale University Lois Mai Chan, University of Kentucky Paul Frank, Library of Congress Mark McKnight, University of North Texas Caroline Miller, University of California, Los Angeles Scott Opasik, Indiana University Mary Kay Pietris, Library of Congress Bruce Trumble, Harvard University Rebecca Uhl, Arizona State University ALCTS and the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) developed this course jointly to provide additional training opportunities for the larger library community, including both PCC and non-PCC participants. The workshop focuses on the application of Library of Congress Classification numbers to bibliographic records. It is useful for general audiences and for member institutions of the PCC BIBCO and SACO Programs. Institutions interested in contributing new or changed numbers to the Library of Congress Classification system are invited to read about PCC SACO membership on the web page: http://www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/saco/saco.html (1) Instructor Manual – (2) Trainee Manual ISBN (Instructor Manual) 0-8444-1186-8 ISBN (Trainee Manual) 0-8444-1191-4 Instructor Manual Table of Contents Foreword Introduction for Instructors Session 1 Overview of Classification Session 2 Brief History of the Library of Congress Classification Session 3 Outline of LC Classification Exercises Session 4 Tools for LC Classification Session 5 Elements of LC Call Numbers Exercises Session 6 Principles of LC Classification and Assigning Numbers Exercises Session 7 Tables Exercises Session 8 Schedule P: Language and Literature Exercises Session 9 Special Types of Material Exercises Session 10 Schedule H: Social Sciences Exercises Session 11 Schedule N: Fine Arts Exercises Session 12 Local Policy Decisions Session 13 SACO: Subject Authority Cooperative Program Exercise Appendices: A: Excerpt from QH540 Ecology B: Shelflisting Tables B.1 Cutter Table (G 63) B.2 Dates Table (G 140) B.3 Translation Table (G 150) B.4 Biography Table (G 320, F 275) C: Tables from Schedules C.1: P-PZ40 C.2: N6 and N7 D: Additional Exercises E: Additional Resources E.1 Bibliography E.2 Other Classification Schemes E.3 Historical Data F: Answers to Exercises G: Workshop Evaluation Form Fundamentals of LC Classification 1 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK FOR DOUBLE SIDED COPY Instructor Manual Foreword The Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS) and the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) have joined forces to develop a program designed to teach skills in using Library of Congress Classification. This joint initiative is a logical outgrowth of the missions of both organizations. As reflected in their respective strategic plans, each has a strong commitment to training and continuing education. The partnership to create training programs in basic cataloging skills began with a workshop on subject cataloging using Library of Congress Subject Headings. This was followed by a workshop on name and title authority work. In 2004, a task force was appointed to develop a new workshop on Library of Congress Classification. The task force was charged with: identifying the potential audience for the material; evaluating existing materials; determining the comprehensiveness of course materials; developing an outline of topics to be covered in the course; and writing and editing the training materials. The task force was also assigned to present one session of the training materials at the Annual Conference of the American Library Association in June 2006 and to present the entire suite of materials at an ALCTS preconference at the 2007 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. The task force has used as its models the course Basic Subject Cataloging Using LCSH and the courses of the Serials Cataloging Cooperative Training Program (SCCTP), both of which provide standardized training materials and skilled professionals to deliver training to catalogers in the field. This model relies on library associations, networks, and institutions to sponsor the workshops and use the materials developed. The content developed for Fundamentals of Library of Congress Classification is jointly owned by ALCTS and the PCC, and will be maintained by a joint task group. The Library of Congress’ Cataloger's Learning Workshop is the publisher and distributor of the workshop materials. Lori Robare Chair, ALCTS/CCS-PCC Task Force on Library of Congress Classification Training Fundamentals of LC Classification 2 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK FOR DOUBLE SIDED COPY Instructor Manual Introduction for Instructors Fundamentals of Library of Congress Classification has been designed for an optimum class size of under 30. The full workshop requires two days and is best presented with a team of two trainers. It is possible to shorten the workshop slightly by omitting some of the later sessions, but it would be difficult to cover the most important concepts in working with LCC and allow sufficient time for exercises and discussion with less than a very full day and a half. This workshop is based upon the SCCTP model, yet there are some differences from SCCTP courses. This workshop is less modular and does not lend itself to rearrangement of sessions as easily. Sessions build upon concepts introduced in earlier sessions. Instructors are free to do some tailoring of the workshop for specific audiences but in order to avoid gaps, instructors should use caution in rearranging or omitting material. Sessions 3, 5-11, and 13 include exercises. Time is allotted in the schedule for completion and discussion of exercises, but instructors may wish to vary the approach depending upon the audience and time constraints. Participants may do the exercises individually or in small groups and come together to review results with the instructor, or the entire group may work through and discuss the exercises together. Two supplementary exercises for session 8 (Schedule P: Language and Literature) are provided in the Appendix, to give attendees more practice working with literary author tables. It is unlikely that there will be sufficient time to complete these within the time constraints of a two-day workshop, but attendees can complete them on their own. Audience for this workshop: The workshop is designed to cover basic skills: to give attendees a solid foundation in the principles and practices of the Library of Congress Classification, an introduction to the most important tools, and practice in working with tables and creating complete call numbers. Many topics were deliberately left out of the curriculum in order to cover the basics without overwhelming attendees and to allow time for active participation through exercises. Examples and exercises have been chosen to emphasize routine practices, not exceptions or especially complex issues. Advertising for the workshop should make clear to potential attendees that this is a basic course. (Of course, it is often the case that experienced catalogers attend “basic” workshops in order to fill in gaps in their understanding.) Explanation of the components of the workshop: Instructors have each PowerPoint slide, along with the notes, printed one slide per page. Attendees have the slides only, printed two slides per page. Fundamentals of LC Classification 3 Instructor Manual • Session 1, Overview of Classification: An introduction to classification in general, including introduction of terminology, brief overview of selected classification systems, and discussion of the value of classification. • Session 2, Brief History of the Library of Congress Classification: Describes the origin and development of LCC. • Session 3, Outline of LC Classification: Explains the outline and important features of the schedules, including the general pattern of subarrangement within classes. o Exercises: Two exercises in interpreting the class schedules. The first emphasizes form subdivisions and the second focuses on geographic divisions. • Session 4, Tools for LC Classification: Describes the versions of the LC Classification schedules available (print and electronic) and auxiliary tools that are used with LCC. This session concludes with a brief overview of features in Classification Web. • Session 5, Elements of LC Call Numbers: Explains the elements that make up a call number and how they are determined. Introduces basic shelflisting practice, additions to call numbers, and MARC coding of call numbers. o Exercises: The first exercise gives attendees practice formulating Cutter numbers using the LC Cutter table (this one is done mid-way through the session). The second asks attendees to identify MARC coding errors in call numbers. • Session 6, Principles of LC Classification and Assigning Numbers: Outlines the general principles to apply when classifying works according to LCC and strategies for finding a class number, including a brief description of some search options in Classification Web. o Exercise: Gives attendees practice identifying the most specific number for a topic. • Session 7, Tables: An overview of tables of general application, including geographic tables based on Cutter numbers, the translation table, and the biography table. o Exercise: Applying the biography table. • Session 8, Schedule P: Focus on the
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