Subject Cataloging

The past week we began learning about subject cataloging. On text, it looked to be the most confusing and dense concept we had studied all semester. I was really having trouble getting a handle on the information. When I finally sat down to complete the exercises, however, it turned out to be a breeze (and far be it for me to say, was actually fun). There were no huge problems to speak of, with the exception of an issue dealing with the order of $y and $z subfields. The EasyMARC textbook talks about a recent decision by LC to change the order of the tags, placing the $z subfield directly after the first subfield. This would place the tag, in most cases, directly behind the $x subfield. The examples given in class, however, order the $z subfields last in all cases with the $y subfield appearing behind $x.

It's making me excited to think about conducting cataloging and authority work and how they can be applicable to special film and television special libraries and archives, as well as academic libraries for art schools. I don't think I ever envisioned myself doing this kind of work before taking the class (more to the point, I didn't realize much of what cataloging even was). But through taking the class the possibilities are definitely interesting. Of course it remains to be seen how many jobs are available in this subfield.

In this economy that holds true for just about any library position.