Colloquial Conversation: Quirky Cataloging and Rare Books Well Done

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Join the Technical Services Interest Group in their quarterly colloquial conversation, open to anyone who wants to join us. What do you do with the occasional item that doesn’t fit well into the classification scheme or subject headings you are using? What do you do with a “rare” item, and you have to interpret an existing cataloging record that you find? Come to hear from two librarians whose job is not only occasional, but constantly addressing these questions.

Bro. Andrew Kosmowski, librarian at the North American Center for Marianist Studies (NACMS), has been cataloging its collection for nearly a year. He uses a special classification schema and subject headings for it, which he is revising while using them. He also uses a library management system primarily developed for K-12 schools. Bro. Andrew will reflect in “Quirky Cataloging” on his time using these items in combination, including some challenges.

Cataloging a rare book often means describing the book as a unique artifact. Manuscript inscriptions, special bindings, bookplates, etc. for example are described using special resources and specific vocabularies. In addition, printings often differed considerably before the arrival of industrialized printing in the mid-19th century. In “Rare Books Well Done,” Armin Siedlecki, Head of Cataloging and Rare Book Cataloger at the Pitts Theology Library, Emory University will talk about tips and tools of what to look for in rare book cataloging and how to distinguish between different imprints, how to decipher Latin dates and place names.

Transcript: Colloquial Conversation – Rare Books Transcript

Presentation Slides: Quirky Cataloging Slides, Rare Books Well Done