 |
 |
The response so far to my request last Friday has primarily consisted of requests to share whatever I found out, a few interesting accounts of ongoing audio cataloging projects and a link from Christine Crawford-Oppenheimer (of the ARCHIVES list) to a pair of NYLINK workshops at <http://www.nylink.suny.edu/training/sound_vis.htm> that have already taken place, but they presumably are likely to be repeated in the future. Since I started writing this earlier today, I received notice from Lance Watsky (ARSC list) that SOLINET is offering "Cataloging Sound Recordings and Scores" this June 14-15 UNC-Charlotte <http://www.solinet.net/workshops/ws_details.cfm?doc_id=2862&WKSHPID=05CSRS>. In addition, Candace Feldt notified me that next February's MLA conference in Memphis will have some Sound Recording cataloging content during its MOUG pre-conference, though not a comprehensive course of instruction. Tim Hawkins, the archivist at the Naropa Insitute has given me a very interesting account of the cataloging process including the organization and instruction of manpower that he oversees there. The Naropa Institute is heavily committed to digitizing and cataloging its audiotape(mostly spoken word)archives and would be worth looking into if you are involved in a similar endeavor. Since some of his communications contained information not meant for public dissemination, I am not pasting them into this message, but he can be contacted at <[log in to unmask]> if you are seriously interested in knowing more. I am still looking for somewhere that offers the specific package of instruction (thorough, limited to sound recordings and including a long look at archival material) that I laid out in the message below. I am wondering why this is such a scarce commodity. It seems that a majority of the seasoned catalogers I have spoken to here (NYPL) and elsewhere say that they learned most of what they know on the job and that they generally had neither formal course instruction or a written manual (aside from guides like AACR, APPM, DACS) for the specialized areas they work in. This probably works fine in departments that have experienced senior catalogers who can pass along their knowledge to those entering the area, but I have heard a number of sad stories involving lone catalogers having to more or less start from scratch since their predecessor did not leave much in the way of documentation and, in my case, I am the first and only overseer of cataloging for a division of the library that has a total history of not quite three years. Self help via following various links on the web is possible now and may be the most practical option I have, other than pestering catalogers outside of my own home turf. I use all sorts of online resources and print materials for reference to get through the day, but they are really not a substitute for being able to get the nuances by studying with and asking questions of someone who has "been there and done that". If you are reading this posted to MLA-L, you are probably someone who has studied an instrument or voice and know the difference between just buying the method book and reading it and taking the book with you to your lesson. In any case, I'm sure this analogy can be grasped even if you have no musical experience in your background. I am musing somewhat at length on this in hopes that there are reading this will stimulate response from those that have had to get over this same hump themselves or anyone who just wants to publicly brainstorm a bit more. Thanks for reading, and thanks to all that have pitched in so far, Peter Hirsch Head of Cataloging Wilson Processing Project The New York Public Library > Dear list colleagues, > > For a number of reasons, I have been looking for a workshop/course > specifically targeted at cataloging of sound recordings that is not just a > unit of a larger general music cataloging course, but I have not had any > success in this. A concentration on the area of unpublished archival > recordings would be a considerable plus. I know of a number of sites that > are helpful in providing cataloging information and links to other > resources, but I am looking for instruction from an actual live person, > though an online course could be an acceptable facsimile. > > I am cross-posting this to the MLA, ARSC and ARCHIVES lists, so please > forgive the potential duplications in advance. > > Thanks all, > > Peter Hirsch > > The New York Public Library