CATALOGING DEPARTMENT - MISSION AND FUNCTIONS
The Cataloging Department is responsible
for providing bibliographic control and organization; for processing of library
material; and for maintaining bibliographic control and organization of library
materials in collections and databases. Providing bibliographic control and
organization of library materials includes the technical evaluation, manipulation,
or creation of information according to national and local library guidelines
and procedures. Processing of library materials includes physical preparation
of items for use and circulation. Maintaining bibliographic control and organization
of library materials includes the monitoring and updating of database information
to keep it current and consistent. These activities support the sharing of
our database with national networks for the global information seeker. The
Cataloging Department is also responsible for updating, eliminating, or correcting
bibliographic entities in the library's databases and collections in accordance
with the library's policy of weeding, inventory, and collection development.
FUNCTIONS
- Provide centralized bibliographic access to collections in Jackson Library.
- Identify, verify, evaluate, and edit bibliographic records for newmaterials following national guidelines and local procedures.
- Complete essential information for partial bibliographic records or create new records to enhance national databases using official standards and local guidelines.
- Effectively monitor processing of materials in priority order.
- Provide labeling and physical processing of library materials.
- Conduct final check of permanently processed and prepared materials for accuracy and completeness and distribute processed materials to appropriate locations.
- Create and maintain authority files of names, subjects and series and interact with other library areas by exchanging pertinent information.
- Review database transactions for accuracy, completeness and consistency.
- Receive and record receipt of items that are part of a periodically published title. Provide preliminary processing or special handling for these items as necessary.
- Provide unique item information in official databases for materials which are additions to existing titles. Monitor these materials and act on retention policies.
- Withdraw items and the related bibliographic records when necessary.
- Evaluate and solve problems with items according to library policies.
