Briefly traces the history of classification systems, discusses the principles, structure, and format of the Library of Congress classification system, and reviews individual classes.

Like earlier editions, this thoroughly updated sixth edition of the classic textbook provides readers with a basic understanding of the Library of Congress Classification system and its applications. The Library of Congress Classification system is used in academic, legal, medical, and research libraries throughout North America as well as worldwide; accordingly, catalogers and librarians in these settings all need to be able to use it. The established gold standard text for Library of Congress Classification (LCC), the sixth edition of Guide to the Library of Congress Classification updates and complements the classic textbook's coverage of cataloging in academic and research libraries. Clear and easy to understand, the text describes the reasoning behind assigning subject headings and subheadings, including use of tables; explains the principles, structure, and format of LCC; details notation, tables, assigning class numbers, and individual classes; and covers classification of special types of library materials. The last chapter of this perennially useful resource addresses the potential role of classification in libraries of the future.

This work has been revised and updated to include the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (2nd ed), the Dewey Decimal System Classification (21st ed) and the Library of Congress Classification Schedules. The text details the essential elements of the International Standard Bibliographic Description; introduces the associated OCLC/MARC specifications; and more. The downloadable resources give more than 500 PowerPoint slides and graphics identical to the text, in addition to scans of the title page, and title page verso and other illustrations that support examples from Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (2nd ed).

"The new edition of this essential work has raised the bar on an already excellent text about cataloguing." - Library Journal, Starred Review The fifth edition of the classic Cataloging and Classification covers the analysis and representation of methods used in describing, organizing, and providing access to resources made available in or through libraries. Since the last edition, there have new developments in cataloging, with the introduction of the IFLA Library Reference Model (LRM) and the new, official RDA, following the 3R Project. This text presents the essence of library cataloging and classification in terms of four basic functions: descriptive cataloging, authority work, subject access, and classification. Within this framework, content has been re-organized, all chapters have been rewritten, and new chapters have been introduced to incorporate the changes that have occurred during the interval between the four and fifth editions. In each part, the historical development and underlying principles of the retrieval mechanism at issue are treated first, because these are considered essential to an understanding of cataloging and classification. Discussion and examples of provisions in the standards and tools are then presented to illustrate the operations covered in each chapter. Divided into seven parts—a general overview; record production and structure, encoding formats, and metadata records; RDA (original and official); subject access and controlled vocabularies; the organization of library resources; encoding & records of bibliographic and authority data; and cataloging ethics--this book includes lists of the standards and tools used in the preparation and processing of cataloging records covered, lists of RDA elements, and sample records. Its companion website with interactive learning activities and supplementary materials located at catclassintro.org make it a true multimedia tool.

The latest edition of this classic work [formerly Immroth's Guide to the Library of Congress Classification (Libraries Unlimited, 1990)] provides you with a basic understanding of the ever-evolving Library of Congress Classification system and its applications. After introducing the classification and giving a brief history of its development, the author presents readers with the general principles, structure, and format of the scheme. She then discusses and illustrates the use of tables. In a chapter new to this edition, Chan provides a general discourse on assigning LC call numbers.

Cataloging and Classification: Trends, Transformations, Teaching, and Training indicates and describes significant trends in cataloging and classification--the practices, services, management, principles, professional education and training, and employment prospects. This is the resource everyone can use to keep their cataloging and classification skills sharp. It gives librarians and information professionals awareness of important innovations likely to change the way they do their job, enables library directors and managers to do longer-range planning, and provides library school faculty and students with insight into new developments and approaches with which they need to be familiar. Cataloging and Classification: Trends, Transformations, Teaching, and Training will increase your awareness and insight into current developments in the field. In turn, this leads to: an appropriate integration and exploration of technologies, systems, and tools better deployment of personnel and expertise more efficient and relevant user-sensitive cataloging and classification, faster and more effective preparation and searching of catalogs more efficient and relevant library school courses and training sequences greater appreciation by library personnel and library users of the value of catalogs and classifications Cataloging and Classification: Trends, Transformations, Teaching, and Training is presented in three main categories: The Cataloger, The Future of Classification Systems, and New Technology and Its Implications. Specific topics you'll read about include the use of vendor services and nontraditional staff for cataloging; recommendations for a syndetic curricular structure; the call to raise classification and subject analysis to more usable and sophisticated levels; an action agenda for technical services in the digital age; and an evaluation of the capabilities of OPACs made possible by advances in technology.