[Publib] CDs - Cataloging and displaying

[Ann Fleming]

Donald I. Crews, at Boone County Public Library, asks for advice on
alternative systems to ANSCR for classifying music CDs:
 
At PBCLS, we have settled on a combination of genre and DDC.    We
originally used just DDC in established numbers, e.g., all rock music
was assigned 781.66, 'cuttered' by artist(s).  Classification was chosen
based on the first 'musical' subject heading in the record.  But because
we are pretty much at the mercy of our vendor's computer system
capabilities and the inconsistent quality of OCLC records, our CDs often
came in with completely wrong classification.  A favorite example is
Mahler being classed in "Gospel."  
 
So now we select the genre at the time of ordering, and the vendor puts
that on the label, above the corresponding call# :  ROCK  781.66 ROL.
Seems redundant, but genre labeling helps maintain better general
organization on the shelves, and DDC helps to further identify, can be
used to print call number lists, etc.   
 
IMO, ANSCR is not the answer ( ;-\ ), for reasons you have already
given.  It is foreign-looking, and more intimidating than DDC or LCC.
Last I heard, it was not being maintained or updated.  If that is true,
then there's another good reason to dump it for something better.  And
just about anything, other than straight accession #, is better.   But
no system is completely satisfactory.  
 
Have you shared your concerns with cataloging staff?   If not, they may
not be aware that there is a need for change.   Maybe the former
director insisted and it's always been thus, or a scary cataloger that
everyone is unwilling to cross is in charge of it.   You don't request
help from the list in convincing them to budge from the old ways...   so
they may dislike ANSCR just as much as you do, and are just waiting for
an opening.   Ask.
 
Hope this helps,
Ann Fleming
Technical Services Division Head
Palm Beach County Library System 
fleminga at pbclibrary.org
(561) 649-5414
 
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