Module 2: Lesson 5 - Access and Cataloguing Systems

Common ways to Access Materials

Firstly I want to address the reflection topic regarding the most common ways to access an item.  I assumed that the most common and easy way was by searching the title or author of an item.  However, after selecting several items from my library and checking their information on the library catalogue I was shocked at how many other access points there were.  It was interesting to see that in our library catalogue you could search a variety of random subjects and you would be taken to a list of related books, magazines and videos.

Comparing Five Items with the ILS

In conducting the summative activity for this week I was surprised at the accuracy and detail of the information in the library catalogue.

In order to get a variety of items, I selected two videos that I show for grade eight Social Studies.  One video was a single VHS tape while the other was a DVD from a four part collection.  I also selected three random fiction novels which were on display throughout the library.

I found that in our library cataloguing system there were the typical areas of bibliographic description described in this weeks reading.  What I was a little surprised by was all the material dependent information that was provided.  For instance with the one novel I am Not Emmanuelle, there were bibliographic comments including siblings, death, trial, upside down books, etc.  There was even a quote in French listed on the ISBD page for this book.  After completing the readings I realized that there would likely be a great deal of data in the library catalogue about each item, I was amazed at the detail included.  As expected, the information includes the main characteristics such as author, title as well as total number of pages.  I did not expect to find things such as the colour of the book covers or the width (measured in centimetres).

The task of finding five items and seeing how they are catalogued opened my eyes to how much detail goes into the process of logging items into an automated system.  Realizing that the Teacher-Librarian is responsible for doing this at my school has given me a much greater respect for the tedious elements of her job that must be done in order for users to find the resources they are looking for.

In case anybody was curious on my fiction selections from the featured displays they were The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Yamkwomba, I am not Emmanuelle by Carine Tardieu, and Just Julie by Nadia Xerri-L.  The latter of the two are part of a six book series (I think).  I included these sources as some of you may be interested by what our Teacher-Librarian is featuring this month!  I’d be curious to know what is featured in your school library this month.