Feeling Overwhelmed

All this cataloging talk and discussion has me feeling overwhelmed. At my school, we have a library assistant who does the cataloging which is great. However, two years ago her job was cut and while she returned last year and is there this year, her position is once again on the cutting block.

I have my interview tomorrow for the library position at CHS so I am nervous and my mind is elsewhere. I have been practicing my responses to various interview questions all week and have been practicing out loud in the car.

Oh yeah....I'm suppose to be talking about cataloging....

Since this was a vacation week, I didn't have the chance to work in the library on this. I would really like to sit down with our assistant and have her explain it to me again. I did do this about a year and half ago, when I first started the program, but I would really like to do it again because I know things will start to "click" for me when I am actually doing it. Many of the students in class seem to have direct experience with this while I am brand spanking new.

I have to admit that I have been preoccupied with my upcoming interview and haven't had a chance to do the quizzes in the book. I did get two of the suggested books from my local library, Accidents Happen and Bard of Avon and have loved reading them both! But oh yeah, that wasn't the assignment. ...I have to learn how to properly catalog them! :)

I found K&R's logic on NOT cataloging graphic novels separately to be compelling (p.85). If we are to follow the logic of separating by graphic novels, why not have separate spaces for historical fiction and science fiction? Brings us back to the debate of getting rid of Dewey and classifying by subject like Barnes & Nobles does.

There always seems to be room for debate in cataloging which makes it interesting and challenging. However, I am of the school of thought that the intent is to get the item in the hands of the students and faculty.