Cataloging and Classification Flashcards
6 cards from real Library Science practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Cataloging and Classification flashcards as text
Which authority file is maintained by the Library of Congress and used to standardize subject headings?
Answer: LCSH
The Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) is the authoritative thesaurus used by most US academic and public libraries for subject cataloging.
What is the purpose of a call number in library cataloging?
Answer: To identify the physical location of an item on the shelf
A call number provides a unique address for each item in the collection, guiding patrons and staff to its physical location on the shelves.
What does 'copy cataloging' mean in library practice?
Answer: Adapting an existing bibliographic record from a shared database
Copy cataloging involves finding and adapting an existing bibliographic record (e.g., from OCLC WorldCat) rather than creating one from scratch.
In FRBR, which entity represents a specific physical item such as a single book on a shelf?
Answer: Item
In FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records), 'Item' is the single physical object you can hold, such as one specific copy of a book.
Which Dewey Decimal number range is assigned to literature and rhetoric?
Answer: 800–899
The 800s in the Dewey Decimal Classification are dedicated to literature and rhetoric, including fiction, poetry, and drama.
What is a 'fixed field' in a MARC record?
Answer: A field of defined length containing coded data in specific character positions
Fixed fields in MARC, such as the Leader and 008, have defined lengths where each character position encodes specific information like date, language, or format.