Cataloging

Cataloging plays a critical role in ensuring our users can easily find the resources available at the MSU Library. The Cataloging, Metadata, and Processing unit within CATS is responsible for cataloging items and ensuring they are properly indexed for search. This includes not only traditional search points like title, author, publisher, and date, but also subjects, abstracts, and other relevant metadata, helping users discover resources they might not have known about. When new records are created, they are shared with the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), contributing to a global network of libraries working together to make resources more discoverable. This collaborative effort enhances the accessibility of information for all library users, both locally and worldwide.

Call Numbers & Subject Headings

Each item in the MSU Library is assigned a unique call number, which acts as a location guide, similar to a street address for a house. We use three different call number systems to organize materials:

  • Library of Congress
  • Dewey Decimal
  • Sudoc

In addition to call numbers, we assign subject headings created by the Library of Congress to each item in our online catalog, CatSearch. These subject headings help users discover materials related to specific topics, ensuring that items are easy to find based on their content.

Material Types

We catalog a wide variety of materials, making them available in multiple formats for our patrons. MSU Library offers 20 different material formats, allowing users to choose the best option for their needs. These formats include:

Audio Media

  • Audiocassettes/Tapes

  • Audiobooks (on tape or CD)

  • CDs

  • DVD-Audio

  • Laserdiscs


Visual Media
  • Books
  • CD-Info, CD-Rom & DVD-Rom
  • Electronic Theses & Dissertations (ETDs)
  • Journals & Electronic Journals
  • Manuscripts
  • Maps
  • Microfiche & Microfilm
  • Scores
  • Slides

Audio & Visual Media Combined
  • Blu-Ray
  • DVDs
  • Videocassettes/Tapes

These diverse formats ensure that our users can access materials in the format that suits them best, whether in digital, audio, or print form.

Metadata

Picking the right metadata fields to describe a collection is essential.  What are the important details about a particular collection?  Author, title, dates, publisher, summary and media type are usually recorded.  But details like dimensions (ie: number of pages, length of recording), location, chairperson, photographer and method of recording can also be important, depending on what kinds of items are in the collection.  Schemas like MARC, RDA, Dublin Core, and MODS each have a set of fields to choose from.  They also have a particular syntax that they prescribe for how words are entered into those fields.  If similar items are described using the same words in the same order, that improves discoverability.

Using the same wording for the same things can help remove confusion and improve searches.  For example, if you use the word ‘Mercury’, do you mean the planet, the element, or the ancient Roman god?  Using controlled vocabulary for subject headings, terms, keywords and personal names is helpful when creating metadata for a collection.  Some controlled vocabularies are meant to be used with all kinds of items, like the Library of Congress subject headings (LCSH).  There are also controlled vocabularies that have been created for a specific subject area.  For example Art and Architecture Thesaurus (AAT) was created for those wishing to describe architectural objects.

Our digital collections can include physical and electronic items.  We create metadata records for both.  Some electric items are scans of the original item which is housed in Special Collections.  Some are “born digital” which means they were originally created in a digital format.  Digital collections, like our Ivan Doig Collection, include one-of-a-kind historical documents, letters, note cards, photographs, audio and visual recordings of interviews, speeches and even bird songs like those in the Acoustic Atlas.  It’s fun interacting with these unique items while we’re writing summaries and picking out subject headings!

MSU students’ Electronic Theses, Dissertations and professional papers (ETDs) are housed in a digital collection we call  ScholarWorks.  We create metadata for these ETDs so they are discoverable world-wide.  Some items in this collection were written as early as 1901.  Before graphics were easy to create, students included photographs, slides and hand-drawn color pictures.  This collection also includes CDs, slides, architectural drawings, large maps, and posters.  One cataloger in our department has created almost 3,000 ETD records! 

Processing & Mending

Processing and Mending of our physical collections occurs in the Mendery, located in Technical Services on the main floor of the Library. We are committed to keeping our collection in good circulating condition.

Processing

All items coming into the Library need to be cataloged and processed for circulation. Processing includes covering, stamping, labeling and in some cases, binding. Items coming from our largest supplier (GOBI) are already processed; books from other vendors need complete processing. Loose items like music scores with parts need a binder, generally made to fit. Plastic or Mylar covers are all custom cut and serve to protect the dust jacket. We use only archival products to process collections. Processing ensures items will remain in circulation and require the least amount of maintenance.

Mending

Items come into the Mendery from Access, Information, and User Services, Technical Services, or the Library Annex. Each item is inspected to determine the level of circulation and if justified, preservation. Typical repairs to books address damaged spines and hinges, torn or missing pages, worn edges or warping. Occasionally we rebind an item by drilling holes for sewing or hardware, or hole-punch pages for a new spiral comb. Using good tools and supplies are important for preservation, along with some experienced hands.

We actively mend or repair any Library materials, as well as other course materials belonging to students, staff and faculty. If you believe that your university owned or class required material is in need of mending, please fill out the form linked below.