As a person interested in history, I do hope that more than one library is keeping copies of professional cataloging tools. I am remembering someone saying that to insure preservation of a complete run of a serial, 13 libraries (or was that 8? 7? So much for my memory!) needed to retain a copy.
If the libraries that have LIS programs don't keep these, then I don't know who will. I'm sure LC keeps them, but there should not been only a single library doing this.
In my opinion, they will be of historical interest to a wide range of scholars. Currently one of our faculty members is studying how classifications change over time. He has looked at the topic of "eugenics" across the life of the DDC. This kind of study is not just important for faculty in LIS, but also important for historians, researchers in cultural, popular and media history, gender studies, women's studies - I could go on!
My vote? Save.
Regarding Cataloger's Desktop, that I don't know. I hope they are retaining archival copies.
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion List for issues related to cataloging & metadata education & training [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of MAURER, MARGARET
Sent: Friday, March 18, 2011 2:35 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [eduCAT] Print copies of professional tools--Preservation?
As the library servicing the only library school in the State of Ohio we have always tried to retain copies of all of the professional tools (LCC Class, Subject heading manuals, the red books, etc. As new issues are published, we send older ones to our depository. Our thinking is that researchers in the future may wish to know what the rules were in particular points in time.
The day is come when we are wondering if we should be doing this. We spend a lot of money, time, and effort to purchase and house items we never use, because we are concurrently paying for and using the online versions.
Is anyone else archiving print professional tools? Does LC maintain a set?
Who is digitally archiving the tools that appear on Cat Desktop?
Thank you.
MM
Margaret Maurer
Editor, TechKNOW
Head, Catalog & Metadata
Associate Professor
Kent State University Libraries
370 Library, P.O. Box 5190
Kent, Ohio 44242-0001
330.672.1702
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