Roger Kohn
Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:25:16 -0700
--- I have been authorized to post this document which was originally intended as an internal LC document but should be of interest to the members of this list. All the best, - r. FINDING INFORMATION ON NEW OR REVISED SUBJECT HEADINGS OR CLASSIFICATION NUMBERS The Cataloging Policy and Support Office provides several methods for cataloging staff to apprise themselves of new and revised subject headings and classification numbers: tentative weekly lists, attendance at editorial meetings, summaries of decisions, and approved weekly lists. TENTATIVE WEEKLY LISTS The first method is that of the tentative weekly lists. Two of them - one for subject headings and one for classification numbers - are posted weekly to CPSO’s internal web site, http://www.loc.gov/staff/catdir/cpso/ [ for staff at LC, and most often also at http://www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/tentative/twls.html and http://www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/saco/ClassTentative/twlc.html , outside LC, rsk]. Scroll down to the section entitled “Subject cataloging information.” The lists consist of proposals made by both LC and SACO catalogers. The subject and classification proposals are vetted by the policy specialists, and cataloging staff are also encouraged to send any comments to the specialist in charge of the list, whose name is provided in the header. Decisions made about the subject proposals are announced at the editorial meetings, which are held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the CPSO conference room and are open to Library of Congress staff and guests. Those catalogers who would like to attend should RSVP by contacting the specialist in charge of that week’s list. SUMMARY OF DECISIONS After the meeting, the Summary of Decisions is forwarded to cataloging staff through e-mail distribution chains. The Summary of Decisions explains why proposed headings and classification numbers are not approved and states whether they may be revised and resubmitted. It also includes lists of new and updated free-floating subdivisions and language codes, as necessary, and occasionally provides information on projects being undertaken by CPSO. An online archive of summaries of decisions is provided on SACO’s web site at http://www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/saco/cpsoed/cpsoeditorial.html. APPROVED WEEKLY LISTS The approved weekly lists of subject headings and classification numbers are also available for cataloging staff to consult. They reflect the decisions made by the policy specialists and are posted on CPSO’s public web site, http://www.loc.gov/aba/, usually one to two weeks after the meeting. CPSO September 9, 2008