6.2 Responsibilities of Paraprofessional Cataloging Specialists

CATALOGING SPECIALISTS:

• Identify printed monographs in English with full-level LC or member copy and complete call numbers that fit within the scheme of the Lee Library’s collections.
• Identify foreign language monographs in roman script with full-level LC or member copy and call numbers at time of receipt.
• Complete online processing of items that fit in the above categories: transfer the record into the local system, enter appropriate holdings information, barcode and create item records, order cards as needed, issue command for export to RLIN, and deliver to the lettering room.
• Maintain awareness of areas where standard copy or call numbers may need local modification, i.e. subject bibliography, Mormon literature, etc.
• Check items in monographic series to see that treatment follows established practice.
• Identify, sort, and deliver items without full copy or useable call numbers, belonging to series for which treatment has not been established, requiring local modification, or involving other problems requiring cataloger attention to the appropriate cataloger’s shelf.
• Process items to be withdrawn from the library, replacement copies, and volumes or copies to be added to holdings (“add-to-shelf”) as assigned.
• Assist with retrospective conversion and reclassification of older collections as needed.
• Understand and effectively use standard tools for creating catalog records. Catalogers assume responsibility for their own continuing education and keep current on updates, developments and changes in standards and tools required for their work.
• Coordinate with subject librarians to ensure that bibliographic access, collection arrangement, and cataloging priorities meet reference and collection management needs.
• Provide supervision to students under their direction.
• Perform original cataloging as required for literature collections assigned to them. Original cataloging includes 1) creation of a bibliographic record when no copy can be found in source files; 2) creation of a full bibliographic record when the only available copy is minimal, preliminary, or substandard; 3) reformatting available copy or re-cataloging to update standards or alter treatment.
• Perform or direct copy cataloging in the following areas: 1) non-book materials, including serials; 2) rare or other special collections items; 3) items in non-roman scripts; 4) other foreign language material lacking copy at time of receipt; and 5) items with copy containing errors or problems beyond the scope of copy cataloging personnel.
• Complete online processing of cataloged items, whether original or from copy in the above categories: transfer the record into the local system, enter appropriate holdings information, barcode and create item records, order cards as needed, issue command for export to RLIN, and deliver to the lettering room.
• Determine appropriate treatments for series or multipart items, except in cases where the default treatment (fully analyzed, traced, and classified separately) has already been established in the national authority file, in which case the Copy Cataloging Team may process the items without consulting the cataloger. In all instances, however, catalogers retain authority to change treatment of previously cataloged items in order to improve access or meet local needs.
• Determine appropriate classification for literature items and non-literature items already having complete subject analysis when no useable call number is found with copy, or when specialized classification is required, e.g., as with subject bibliography or Mormon literature.
• Establish unique access points for bibliographic agent entities, resolve conflicts between new and existing access points for agents, create original authority records for agents, and modify existing authority records for agents as needed, contributing these to NACO program.  Route all items needing authorized access points for works and expressions to the faculty cataloger.
• Assist with retrospective conversion and reclassification of collections in their assigned subject areas as directed by faculty catalogers.
• Have authority in all instances to alter bibliographic copy, treatments, or classification of previously cataloged materials in their assigned collections in order to achieve optimum bibliographic control and access.

Maintained by: John B. Wright

Last Updated: October 2020