MLS Knowledge Organization and Cataloging 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When cataloging a map under RDA, which element corresponds to the ISBD Area 3 'mathematical data'?
- Scale and projection (Correct answer)
- Publisher and place
- Physical description of the sheet
- Series title and numbering
Correct answer: Scale and projection
For cartographic materials, RDA records scale and projection as material-specific details, corresponding to ISBD Area 3.
Question 2: Which Library of Congress authority file is the standard source for name headings in US cataloging practice?
- LCSH (Library of Congress Subject Headings)
- NACO Authority File (LC/NACO) (Correct answer)
- SEARS List of Subject Headings
- MeSH (Medical Subject Headings)
Correct answer: NACO Authority File (LC/NACO)
The LC/NACO Authority File maintained through the Name Authority Cooperative Program provides authorized name headings for persons, families, and corporate bodies.
Question 3: In MARC 21, what does the second indicator value '0' in field 245 signify?
- The title is a uniform title
- No nonfiling characters (no article at the start) (Correct answer)
- The item has no title page
- The title was taken from the spine
Correct answer: No nonfiling characters (no article at the start)
A second indicator of '0' in MARC 245 means there are no nonfiling characters to skip when filing, i.e., the title does not begin with an article.
Question 4: Which RDA relationship designator would be recorded for a person who wrote the words of a song (but not the music)?
- Composer
- Lyricist (Correct answer)
- Arranger of music
- Performer
Correct answer: Lyricist
The RDA relationship designator 'Lyricist' identifies a person responsible for writing the words (lyrics) of a musical work.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a 'scope note' in a subject heading or thesaurus entry?
- To list the Cutter numbers assigned to works on that topic
- To define the boundaries of the term's usage and distinguish it from related terms (Correct answer)
- To provide a bibliography of works using the heading
- To indicate the MARC field in which the heading is recorded
Correct answer: To define the boundaries of the term's usage and distinguish it from related terms
A scope note clarifies the intended meaning and range of application of a heading, helping indexers use terms consistently.
Question 6: In LCC, what does the letter 'Z' at the beginning of a call number indicate?
- Zoology and animal sciences
- Rare and special collections
- Bibliography, library science, and information resources (Correct answer)
- Unpublished or manuscript materials
Correct answer: Bibliography, library science, and information resources
LCC class Z covers Bibliography, Library Science, and General Information Resources, making it the home for works about librarianship itself.
Question 7: What distinguishes 'descriptive cataloging' from 'subject cataloging'?
- Descriptive cataloging assigns classification numbers; subject cataloging creates authority records
- Descriptive cataloging records physical and bibliographic attributes; subject cataloging provides topical access points (Correct answer)
- Descriptive cataloging is done only for print; subject cataloging applies to all formats
- Descriptive cataloging uses MARC; subject cataloging uses Dublin Core exclusively
Correct answer: Descriptive cataloging records physical and bibliographic attributes; subject cataloging provides topical access points
Descriptive cataloging focuses on identifying and describing an item (title, authorship, edition, etc.), while subject cataloging assigns subject headings and classification numbers for topical access.
MLS Knowledge Organization and Cataloging 4
When cataloging a map under RDA, which element corresponds to the ISBD Area 3 'mathematical data'?