[LM_NET] FW: Online Petition to Prevent the Library of Congress From Abandoning the Creation of Series Authority Records

[sfinemel <sfinemel@COMCAST.NET>]

I am posting the response ( with permission)from Marilyn McCroskey
Professor of Library Science, Head of Cataloging, Meyer Library Missouri
State University that was sent to me regarding: 

The Library of Congress announcement: Abandoning the Creation of Series
Authority Records.

Professor McCroskey's full response to me is pasted below.

"Judging from lack of LM_NET responses to this, perhaps folks don't
understand what this will mean to them--that they will get LC MARC
cataloging records with all series titles in 490 0 (untraced series),
and these series titles will be searchable only by keyword and not
through a title search. Also, there will no longer be LC authority work
done on series titles (i.e., no see references for series titles
either). Older LC cataloging will remain as it was. Previous LC
authority records will still be in the LC system. LC just won't make any
more authority records for series titles.

This was a surprise announcement a week before the change was scheduled
to be implemented at LC (May 1). There was a huge outcry from public and
academic library catalogers--thus the petition. LC has postponed
implementation until June 1. We don't know if this means that LC might
reconsider, or they are giving libraries time to formulate local
policies about how to handle series titles that appear in 490 0. Many
libraries will do the series authority work themselves and trace these
in 440 as in the past, because they will want these series titles to
come up on an OPAC title search, and they will want see references when
needed.

The LC decision was apparently to save staff time and get their
cataloging done faster, in light of recent budget cuts that have meant
fewer catalogers at LC. It has been suggested that librarians should
write their Congressmen and urge a budget increase so that LC can
continue to provide good cataloging for the library world to use." 


Marilyn McCroskey
Professor of Library Science
Head of Cataloging, Meyer Library
Missouri State University

Sybil Finemel

Library Director MLIS.CIO.

Contributor, lii.org, Librarians' 

Index to the Internet

http://lii.org/

Virtual Reference Desk Volunteer

24/7 Reference Librarian. 

sfinemel@comcast.net 

"Manners are of more importance

than laws. Manners are what vex

or soothe,

corrupt or purify, exalt or

debase, barbarize or refine us,

by a constant,

steady, uniform, insensible

operation, like that of the air

we breathe in." 

Edmund Burke (1729-1797)

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------