ARLIS/NY Catalogers Discussion Group Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2002
Hosted by the Bard Graduate Center

1. Classification and reclassification at MOMA
   • Background: MOMA currently has 2 systems, a Dewey derived system and a shelve by size/acquisition system.
   • The current systems are proving inadequate (very long call numbers) and further problems are expected as a result of the expansion project where approximately 60% of the books will be offsite.
   • Arguments in favor of shelving by size:
   • Better protection for the books
   • No subject analysis required to shelve the books
   • Maximizes space
   • There haven't been many complaints from curators regarding the classification/shelving system.
   • MOMA is considering assigning 2 call numbers so books may be shelved in both on and off site stacks (Danny distributed 2 handouts: a LC catalogue record and a MOMA Voyager record).
   • The Met is reclassifying to LC prospectively only.
   • Vicky noted that many RLIN records have 050 LC numbers and at Watson they kept the 050 field and assigned their call number in the 090 field.
   • Danny asked what the advantages of using LC would be, Sherman noted that most big libraries use LC and as most RLIN records have LC call numbers, it requires little training.
   • Claudia brought up the fact that Columbia, Princeton, NYPL and NYU will have off-site storage perhaps with similar issues to MOMA's.
   • Sherman said that NYU offsite books will get an LC-style call number and a bin number in the holdings section. The LC number will be the only visible number for patrons.

2. URL Maintenance
   • Eric asked if one can use the name of a website rather than the URL. He has been cataloguing exhibition catalogues with websites that are, by nature, ephemeral - he has been using the website for additional information for the bib record.
   • Sherman said that authority record guidelines give the name of the site.
   • There has been ALA discussion about adding $u to 670, could tell a link checker to check 670 $u's.
   • In general there is no push to have links monitored and updated, more a citation than an active link.
   • Claudia said that Columbia always uses links and Maria suggested including the site name and date and asked if you should change URL's. Sherman said no, new URL's should be added rather than updating old ones.

3. ARLIS/NA
   * Mtgs of interest
   • cataloguing advisory meeting is open to all and always looking for topics. Liz mentioned that this is a good venue to bring up issues with MARC, LC, AACR2 - they have been successful in the past in lobbying LC to make changes.
   • ARLIS/NA cataloguing meeting Sunday 8h-10h
   • Seminars on Monday: Cataloguing African art, Stretching the Mold (artists books, facsimiles, auction catalogues), Common Ground
   • Serials round table and Negotiating Power On-line (serials)
   • Common Ground - sharing vocabularies, Friday evening

4. Topics for discussion/questions
   • Claudia and Gloria mentioned that more art and architecture scope notes would be useful for terms like "print", "etching" and "engraving". Scope notes would help for terms with many nuances
   • Eric asked Danny how far MOMA goes with AAT terms in the 655 field. Danny said that they use them if the item could potentially be used as an artifact and to identify particular collections (i.e. sound recordings, CD-ROM's)
   • Eric said that he has been having difficulty cataloguing 1900's futurist manifestoes. He has been using 655's when there is no appropriate LCSH subdivision. $vSpecimens and $vFacsimiles were suggested as possible LCSH subdivisions.
   • Liz questioned whether it is a good idea to use AAT when most of a collection has lots of examples of genre in old format
   • Sherman said that LC is more robust and would rather submit subject proposals.
   • Vicky mentioned that CCA uses 654/653's with very long strings. The Met and NYU usually keep these fields but Sherman questioned the searchability of the fields.

5. ALA Midwinter
   • Sherman has posted reports from ALA Midwinter (Jan., 2002, New Orleans) on his website at: http://artcataloging.net/alagen.html

6. Open Discussion
   • Documenting Visual Culture VRA Bulletin (special 2002) - Interested contributors should submit proposals by March 1st
   • Many people were having access problems with LC catalogue site. Sherman said that LC has 250 ports for the web and 250 for Z3950, may be a "port hogging" issue
   • Cataloguing/Reference position available at the Met
   • Frick has reopened their search for an electronic resources librarian
   • March 15th is the NYTSL Spring Reception
   • May 10th is the NYTSL Spring Dinner

7. Next Meeting
   • Rpts from ARLIS/NA conference
   • Monday, April 8th at the Met

notes by Erin Elliott
elliott@bgc.bard.edu