All,
One of the things that I have found most rewarding is the ability to
"fix" LCSH terminology. However these changes are usually
complicated and involve a lot of work by CPSO. The result is
frequently good, but the symbol of my library seldom appears in
the record anywhere. I do however end up having an easier time
cataloging. I wonder if we shouldn't have a different mechanism for
sending these problems. Should we just use the CPSO problem
reporting e-mail?
BUT AS A SACO participant I think it is my responsibility to notify
LC when I encounter this type of challenge. A recent one was
Adaptive computing. The term began with the subject heading
scope limited to technology for people with disabilities. In recent
years it has come to mean something else in computer science
and it was being assigned outside of the scope note. There are
now two terms with much clearer scope notes. Yes I did send a
proposal and no the symbol of my library is not on the records and
finally I don't really care. I can now use the terms correctly and LC
copy coming into my library is more likely to be correct. However,
I am not sure that having to prepare a form is really the best way of
approaching the problem.
Another early example (maybe pre-SACO?) was Nonverbal
communication. At the time I was cataloging for both psychology
and education. There was a term: Nonverbal communication and
another for Nonverbal communication (Psychology). In our catalog
we had mostly the "Psychology" term but the headings were a real
mess. I was asked to prepare a "scope note". I was thrilled when
"Psychology" ended up being changed to Body language. I didn't
propose the heading change... I just presented the problem.
This is also a reason I am not thrilled by the "number of
contributions" required. Some of the hardest, most complicated
things I have done over the years show no sign of my work.
So how do the rest of you feel about our responsibility to report
LCSH problems? Is it a responsibility and an eventual benefit of
SACO? Or should we leave it up to AUTOCAT to notify LC? Is
there some mechanism for giving us credit for the work we do? Or
does it matter? Can we report problems without providing the
answer, since the answer (heading) may change anyway?
Mary Charles
Mary Charles Lasater
Authorities Coordinator
Vanderbilt University
21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37240
(615) 343-2085
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