Cataloguing is the collection of all the information about an item (i.e. its bibliographic information) in a formal way. This includes the author, title, publisher, etc., including the assignment of subject headings and classification numbers.
Cataloguing is a professional activity, with the teacher-librarian having control over the key processes to ensure the quality of the catalogue. The catalogue must be constructed and maintained correctly in order to perform its function of retrieving information. When new items are added to the school library collection, it is essential to ensure that catalogue records for those items can be located in the school's Public Access Catalogue. This usually entails adding holdings to an existing catalogue record, or creating a new one. Similarly, when items are deleted from the collection, the catalogue record or holding for that item should be deleted. Thus the school library's catalogue accurately reflects the resources held in the school library centre. Systems at the State Library may be contacted for more information on 6233 7939. Schools without a teacher-librarian are restricted to adding holdings onto TALIS records and are unable to add original catalogue records to the shared database unless alternative arrangements are made. Contact Systems Support to discuss the range of cataloguing options available to school libraries.
Every item in the collection must be described using a standard format, with the same basic components contained in each description. The descriptions must always be cited in the same order and employ consistent punctuation. AACR2 Rev.ed (Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules 2nd revised edition), Dewey Decimal Classification and the TALIS cataloguing manual (given to all school libraries at TALIS training) should be used in order to assure consistency. The standardisation of procedures helps in the local, national and international exchange of bibliographic data and is essential in computerised systems.
TALIS libraries, including school libraries, use Library of Congress Subject Headings to assign headings to records in the shared database.
School libraries that do not have access to centralised cataloguing have a number of options. They may:
- do their own original cataloguing
- purchase commercially produced cataloguing
- or use a combination of the above
If they create their own records it is advisable to keep a record of decisions that are made with regard to classifying of items and level of catalogue description. AACR2R and DDC should be used, along with appropriate subject heading lists from either SCIS (Schools Cataloguing and Information Service) or LCSH (Library of Congress Subject Headings) .
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Librarians and teacher librarians are becoming increasingly aware of the growing need to collect URLs, perhaps to include on the school intranet or school library web page. These resources form part of the library collection and should be included in the Collection Development policy. The eCentre for Teachers website (accessible to Government teachers only) is a repository of quality assured websites and online resources. Teachers and library staff can suggest suitable websites for addition to the eCentre via the website.
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The Tasmanian Curriculum is based on a core set of values: connectedness, resilience, achievement, creativity, integrity, responsibility and equity.
The following list of Library of Congress Subject Headings correspond to the Values of Education and may be used to identify suitable library resources.
Library of Congress Subject Headings for the Values of Education
| Value |
LC subject heading |
| Resilience |
Resilience (personality trait) - Fiction |
| Achievement |
Success - Fiction
Also See references to this heading from Personal growth and Self-improvement subject headings |
| Creativity |
Creative ability - Fiction |
| Integrity |
Integrity - Fiction |
| Responsibility |
Responsibility - Fiction
Also See references to this heading from Accountability and Obligation subject headings |
| Equity |
Social justice - Fiction
Toleration - Fiction |
| Connectedness |
Connectedness - Fiction |
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Guaranteeing Futures
eCentre for Teachers