‘Cataloging Correctly for Kids’

Highlighted among books and resources on my professional shelf: Cataloging Correctly for Kids, An Introduction to the Tools by Sheila S. Intner, Joanna F. Fountain, and Jean Weihs (American Library Association, 2011).

I took a course in cataloging as part of my pursuit of a library degree, and, while it offered a good foundation for my eventual work in a library, I felt that there was more to learn — particularly in the realm of working with records in an online catalog. Add in, too, my wish to learn those practices that are especially helpful to children, and it was clear to me that reading this book was essential to my professional development.
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An effective catalog listing, right up there with signage, is vital for the reader to successfully navigate to where an item can be found in a library. With this book, I believe I’ll be that much more effective connecting customers with the books that they seek.

This book was immediately practical in its approach to the subject. The reader can delve as superficially or in-depth as befits their needs.

Tools covered in this book include Cataloging-in-Publication, that information right inside a book that identifies its classification according to the Dewey Decimal System and the Library of Congress. Want to save time by copying a record already produced by another library? This book identifies where and how to obtain existing records for the item you need to catalog.

The book also addresses the practice and theory that goes into creating a full record according to accepted guidelines, including which items in a catalog record are especially helpful to children.