No, it isn't the first, nor the last. 
 
However, it is important to distinguish between students who are taking an introductory cataloging course because the state requires it for licensing as a school library media specialist or because the program requires an information organization course for graduation and those who are planning on a career as a tech services professional. The former have not only no interest in the history and evolution of cataloging rules, they generally do not have the necessary background for understanding it or the professional need for it. 
 
The latter take advanced cataloging.
 
Suzanne M. Stauffer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Library and Information Science
Louisiana State University
275 Coates Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
(225)578-1461
Fax: (225)578-4581
[log in to unmask]

________________________________

From: Discussion List for issues related to cataloging & metadata education & training on behalf of Stephen Hearn
Sent: Mon 9/29/2008 9:05 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [eduCAT] How are you teaching series?



This isn't the first time rules have changed. Having a good grasp of the
evolution of the rules and the MARC format is an important component of
a cataloger's or catalog manager's working knowledge.  Students should
learn both the 440 method and the 490/8XX method, and why the change was
made, just as they should learn about the earlier redefinition of
246/740, and the changes before that to the rules for corporate body
main entry. As long as we have legacy data, tech services professionals
will need understand the history of our rules as well as what is
currently correct.

Stephen

Suzanne Stauffer wrote:
> I'm teaching the current use of 440 and 490/830. I have not seen any official statement that the proposed change has been instituted, and the MARC website has not been changed. I'm also not clear on what the indicators would be and whether a 490 is required if the series is traced as given on the item; it appears to be optional, but the wording of the proposal is vague and ambiguous.
> 
> It's difficult enough to understand one concept at a time; I don't want to confuse them by teaching competing methods for handling the same concept, particularly when one of them has not yet been finalized or released.
> 
> I'll save the proposed method for advanced cataloging. 
> 
> Suzanne M. Stauffer, Ph.D.
> Assistant Professor
> School of Library and Information Science
> Louisiana State University
> 275 Coates Hall
> Baton Rouge, LA 70803
> (225)578-1461
> Fax: (225)578-4581
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Discussion List for issues related to cataloging & metadata education & training on behalf of Kamoji, Linda J
> Sent: Mon 9/29/2008 6:51 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [eduCAT] How are you teaching series?
>
>
>
> Hi. How are you dealing with teaching the series MARC fields for monographs?
>
> Teaching the proposed abandonment of 440 and using 490 1 and 8XX only?
>
> Teaching both the old (440) and the new ways?
>
> Something else?
>
> Thanks for any input.
>
> Linda Kamoji
> Indiana University Libraries
> Cataloging manager and Adjunct Lecturer
>  

--
Stephen Hearn
Authority Control Coordinator/Head, Database Management Section
Technical Services, University Libraries, University of Minnesota
160 Wilson Library
309 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN  55455
Ph: 612-625-2328 / Fax: 612-625-3428