Preliminary LC Records for Monographs in OCLC

Abstract

Online Computer Library Center's (OCLC) decision to load Library of Congress (LC) preliminary cataloging for monographs into the online union catalog resulted in the addition of a significant number of these records to the database over the 15-month period before the project was suspended in March 1991. A description is given of the problems experienced in dealing with these items by the cataloging staff of a medium-sized research library. The data are from a project at Morris Library at Southern Illinois University. The problems illustrate why the project came to an abrupt end. Twenty percent of initial searches yielded Level 5 records that duplicated member input full (or minimal-level) cataloging. Catalogers discovered that items with Level 5 records required almost as much time to catalog as those without copy. In addition, the heads of cataloging at 57 Association of Research Libraries institutions in the US were asked what they thought of Level 5 records. Their responses revealed that the records created more work, especially for higher level staff.