Library Juice Academy classification course: a report by Anna Hughes

I recently received a bursary from CILIP’s Cataloguing & Indexing Group to complete a four week Dewey decimal classification course run by Library Juice. I saw this opportunity advertised on the CIG blog (via Twitter).  As well as being used at most academic libraries in the United Kingdom, the Dewey decimal classification system is common in public libraries too. While my cataloguing role at The University of Manchester Library (UML) involves copy cataloguing shelf-ready items to DD23, I am not involved with the classification of the new material passing through the department. The online course aimed not only to expose novices to the steps necessary to assign classification and build Dewey numbers using Web Dewey, but to give them a solid foundation in the creation and interpretation of Dewey decimal classification numbers as well. For those (like me) who are more used to copy cataloguing Dewey numbers, this was an opportunity to understand the methods used to build the classification numbers from scratch.

This course consisted of lessons and practical exercises to give participants experience with classifying various types of resources. There were also group discussions which were extremely useful when you had a classification quandary, which given the subjective nature of classification, was pretty regularly! Each week’s content was posted on a Sunday night with a week to read through the subject matter and complete the assignments and exercises. Deadlines were not strict though which meant that the course could work around my job which was perfect.

So what have I gained from taking this course? I hadn’t realised how complicated the Dewey decimal classification system is! Although I already had a basic familiarity with the system thanks to my PG.Dip in Library & Information Management, and from copy cataloguing in my day to day role, elements of classification such as using the Dewey decimal classification tables to add depth to classification numbers took me way out of my comfort zone. However, this course gave me an understanding of how and why material is classified where it is and enabled me to develop in-depth classification numbers using building blocks. Although classification at UML is made more complicated by the fact that we classify material to a range of Dewey decimal, dependant on the subject matter, thanks to CILIP and CIG, hopefully, I’ll be able to put what I’ve learned into action soon.

 

 

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CIG membership consultation survey

Cataloguing and classification are no longer being taught widely, but we recognise the need from library and information professionals for training in these areas.

• Do you think that the terms ‘cataloguing’ and ‘indexing’ are out of touch with today’s world?
• Has there been a paradigm shift and should we respond to it by changing our name and/or our events to reflect this?
• Is the Cataloguing and Indexing Group Committee organising the types of events you need where you need them?

To find answers to these questions, we invite all our existing and potential members to participate in a short survey. Your views will help us understand our members better and will guide us in deciding whether to change our name.

Your responses will also contribute to shaping the events we offer in the future. We will share the findings of the survey and present our proposals at our 2018 AGM.

Please complete the survey by 31 March 2018.

Resource Discovery – from catalogues to discovery services

Organised by the Cataloguing and Indexing Group in Scotland, this all day seminar will present different perspectives on resource discovery for library, archival and other educational and cultural collections.

With the advent of next generation web scale discovery layers supplementing or replacing traditional and in-house catalogues, institutional resource discovery environments are changing beyond recognition.

But what does this mean for our collections, and for our users?

The seminar will seek the views of users, cataloguers, reference services and systems staff, and developers, and explore the impact that these new discovery layers are having on discovery and integration of collections across libraries, archives, universities and other cultural institutions.

This event will be of value to information profesionals with an interest in metadata, user services, resource discovery, discovery systems and integrated use of collections.

Speakers are still being confirmed, but the event will include presentations from the Universities of Durham and St Andrews, the National Library of Scotland and Jisc.

When: Wednesday 21 March, 2018  (10:00 – 16:00 GMT)

Where: National Library of Scotland

Book your place through Eventbrite

 

Cataloguers in Wales / WHELF – Artists’ Books Cataloguing Training Day

Cataloguers in Wales, in association with WHELF (Wales Higher Education Libraries Forum), have organised a training day for cataloguing artists’ books, to be held in Cardiff on Monday 12^th February.

The morning session will include an introduction to artists’ books led by Sarah Bodman of the University of the West of England, Bristol; plus presentations on collections held at Cardiff Metropolitan University and Cardiff University – what they include, and how they are utilised by library users.  The afternoon session will be led by Maria White (co-author of “Artists’ books: a cataloguers manual” ARLIS guide) and will introduce attendees to the practical aspects of cataloguing artists’ books.

Primarily aimed at WHELF cataloguers, we do have a small number of spare places available to the wider cataloguing community.

As places are limited they will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.  Please contact Karen Pierce by email: PierceKF@Cardiff.ac.uk to make a booking and to receive further details.  This is a free training event and lunch will be included.

Date: February 12, 2018

Venue: Special Collections, Cardiff University, Cardiff

Time: 10.00-17.00

See you there.

 

Training Bursary – Dewey Decimal Classification

Training Bursary – Library Juice Online Course – Dewey Decimal Classification

 

Already thinking about CPD for 2018? Would you like to enhance your Dewey classification skills?

CIG is offering 1 free registration on the Dewey Decimal Classification course which runs between February 5th – March 2nd 2018.

You will learn how to:

•  Analyse the subject matter of resources in order to assign Dewey numbers.
• Use Web Dewey (trial access is included for the duration of the course) to find, select and build Dewey numbers.
• Use Dewey tables to add depth to classification numbers.
• Make confident decisions when classifying resources that straddle subject areas.
• Critically analyse Dewey numbers in copy cataloguing records.

The course is taught asynchronously so that you can fit your study around your work/life commitments. Tuition is via readings, assignments and an online discussion forum.

You will also receive a certificate on successful completion of the course.

How to apply:

To apply for the free registration you must be a CIG member (although CILIP membership is not required.) The application (approx. 200 words) should demonstrate why you would like to enrol; how you would use this training opportunity to highlight or promote CIG’s special areas of interest; and why you would not be able to enrol without CIG sponsorship.

If you are successful you will be required to write about your experience of the course and its’ content. Your report, or summary, will be shared with CIG members via the CIG blog and/or our professional journal.

Please submit your application to the Honorary Secretary Emily Bogie, e.berrisford@sheffield.ac.uk by 12th January 2018.

Applicants will be notified whether they have been successful by 26th January 2018.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to get in touch at Info.cig@cilip.org.uk.

CIG Membership Benefit: Discount on Library Juice Academy Online Training for Librarians.

CIG has negotiated a 20% discount for members wishing to enrol on any of the online courses offered by Library Juice Academy.

There is a range of professional development workshops for librarians and other library staff, focusing on practical topics to build new skills.

Courses of interest to CIG members include:

• Cataloguing
• Dewey Decimal Classification
• Library of Congress Classification
• Authority Control
• Linked Data
• RDF
• JSON-LD
• XML
• SPARQL

Emphasis is on student interaction with instructors and with each other, supported by a variety of class assignments and reading materials. Furthermore, the instructors are librarians and LIS faculty who have developed specialised knowledge in the subjects they teach.

Workshops are taught asynchronously, so you can participate as your own schedule allows, within a four or six-week period. There is also permanent access to course materials and assignment marks.

*To obtain the CIG Membership discount code please email: CIGcommittee@gmail.com

RDA in a Day – Report

RDA in a Day report by Karl Fairhurst

I was thrilled to learn that I had won a bursary for the RDA in a Day event, not least because I am new to the profession but also new to cataloguing!  Cataloguing experience is difficult to come by as a new professional and I saw this as a valuable opportunity to get to grips with my new passion and the new standard before starting a CILIP accredited course in September.

Turning up at CILIP HQ, I was delighted to meet librarians from the BBC, Natural History Museum and Royal Zoological Society.  It was interesting to hear how cataloguing fits into their roles and how much of RDA they were already familiar with.  With a tea in hand, we were briefed by Alan Danskin and Lesley Firth of the British Library on the day ahead.  They detailed how we will create catalogue records using RDA and RIMMF, learn to navigate the RDA toolkit, discuss the FRBR model and understand how RDA and MARC can be used together.

September Seminar: Managing Library Collections and Metadata

Join Backstage Library Works either in London or Edinburgh this September for a half-day seminar on managing collections and metadata in libraries.

The Topic:

Managing an institution’s collections and metadata can be a huge task. Librarians and archivists feel pressure to continually improve workflows, delivering better service to patrons and researchers.

At the same time, many are being asked to create efficiencies, to find new ways to accomplish more with existing resources.

Librarians at leading institutions are tackling these challenges in innovative ways. We’ve invited a few to discuss their current and future plans with you.

• Reclassification of library collections can speed up an acquisitions workflow and reduce processing costs for new items. Still, the task of changing class marks in the metadata, then relabeling and juggling the physical location of every book in the library can be overwhelming.
• Metadata workflows can be fine-tuned to streamline processes and improve discovery in your catalogue, but changes often require the coordinated efforts of several departments to overcome institutional inertia.
• Digital access to archival collections is expanding at a thrilling rate. However, the next fifty thousand images are only as useful as the metadata that patrons will search to find the content they want.

Dates:
Tuesday, 12 September 2017, in London
Thursday, 14 September 2017, in Edinburgh

Cost:
Free

Save the Date:

Mark your calendar and stay tuned for registration details and programme announcements.

Sign up for the mailing list to receive the latest updates:
bit.ly/backstage_events

Questions? Please email:

Nicole Lewis
nicole@bslw.com

Thinking about classification: a CILIP CIG workshop

Date: June 28, 2017

Where: CILIP HQ

Classification is a fundamental part of library and information work, but rarely gets the same attention as its cataloguing cousin.  Not only does classification tell us where to place a physical or electronic resource, it also organises knowledge itself.  This workshop offers an opportunity to think about and discuss the broad concerns of classification theory and practice, without focusing on any one particular scheme.

Each session will offer an equal quantity of talks and hands-on activities, including “Classification speed-dating”, “Classification elevator pitches”, “Classification scheme ethical analysis” and “Reclassification group problem-solving”.

Guest speakers include Prof. Vanda Broughton (Emeritus Professor, UCL) and Dr Aida Slavic (Editor-in-chief, UDC). The workshop will be led by Deborah Lee (Senior Cataloguer, Courtauld Institute of Art, and PhD student, City, University of London) and Anastasia Kerameos (Serials & e-Resources Librarian, BFI).

We are delighted to be able to offer two sponsored places.  For further details, including application deadlines, the programme, fees and to book please visit  https://www.cilip.org.uk/cataloguing-indexing-group/events/thinking-about-classification.

Cataloguing for Non-Cataloguers

Booking is now open for the Cataloguing forNon-Cataloguers course run jointly by BIALL and CIG. Further details and a booking form can be found here.