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Cataloguing Policies and Standards

Cataloging Standards

Serials Cataloging

CONSER Editing Guide, 1994 ed.

Compilation of policies, procedures, and technical guidelines followed within the CONSER program. This provides an element-by-element guide to serial bibliographic records in USMARC format, with usage guidelines, editing instructions, and extensive examples. Developed and maintained by Library of Congress, Serial Record Division. Note: To be completely reissued in spring 2003 to incorporate the 2002 revision of the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2d ed.

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Looseleaf, with updates.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues

Section B6, CONSER Record Requirements for Full, Core, and Minimal Level Records

CONSER Cataloging Manual (2002)

Training and ready-reference tool, with explications of serials cataloging practice and illustrated examples. This is also crossreferenced with and serves as a companion to standards followed within the CONSER Program, especially Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, Library of Congress Rule Interpretations, and the CONSER Editing Guide. Developed and maintained by Library of Congress, Serial Record Division.

  • Available in print: Washington: Serial Record Division, Library of Congress: Distributed by the Cataloging Distribution Service. Looseleaf, with updates.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

Module 31, Remote Access Computer File Serials

Module 33, Newspapers

Newspaper cataloging guidelines for CONSER and the United States Newspaper Program. This supersedes Newspaper Cataloging and Union Listing Manual (1990), the former standard.

Section 33.18, “Electronic Newspapers

International Standard Bibliographic Description for Serials and Other Continuing Resources (2002)

ISBD(CR). International standards for creating catalog records for serials and other continuing resources. Developed by International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.

Descriptive Cataloging (General)

Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2d ed., 2002 revision (AACR2)

International descriptive cataloging code, with rules governing: description; choice of entry; form of name, title, and series headings; and corresponding catalog references. Chapter 12 is used in conjunction with other chapters to catalog continuing resources (serials and integrating resources) in any format. Developed and maintained by Joint Steering Committee for Revision of AACR.

  • Available in print: Ottawa: Canadian Librarian Association; London: Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals; Chicago: ALA. Looseleaf with updates.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

Library of Congress Rule Interpretations, 2d ed.

United States companion to Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2d ed., parallel in structure to it, with amplifications, explications, and additions. This, de facto, defines a common national descriptive cataloging practice. Developed and maintained by Library of Congress, Cataloging Policy and Support Office.

  • Available in print:Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Looseleaf, with updates.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

NACO Participants’ Manual, 2d ed. (1996)

Procedures and guidelines followed by participants in the Name Authority Cooperative Program. Developed for the NACO Program of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC).

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

Descriptive Cataloging Manual, Z1: Name and Series Authority Records

Standards for name and series authority records followed by Library of Congress and Name Authority Cooperative Program participants. This parallels the USMARC Authority Format in structure and is meant to be interfiled and used with it. Developed and maintained by Library of Congress, Cataloging Policy and Support Office.

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Policy and Support Office, Library of Congress. Looseleaf for interfiling in USMARC Authority Format, with updates.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Books, 2d ed. (1991)

Guidelines for cataloging rare serials are given in an appendix. Developed by Library of Congress.

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

Examples to Accompany Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Books, 2d ed. (1999)

Developed by Bibliographic Standards Committee of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section.

  • Available in print: Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries.

Standard Citation Forms for Published Bibliographies and Catalogs Used in Rare Book Cataloging, 2d ed. (1996)

List of standard forms for catalog citations of often-used bibliographies and catalogs. Developed by Library of Congress in collaboration with Bibliographic Standards Committee of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section, Association of College and Research Libraries, American Library Association.

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

Map Cataloging Manual (1991)

Includes guidelines for cataloging map serials. Developed by Library of Congress.

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Looseleaf.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop. Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

Cataloging Internet Resources, 2d ed. (1997)
Guidelines for description of electronic information sources on the Internet. Developed by Nancy B. Olson for the OCLC Internet Cataloging Project.

ALA-LC Romanization Tables, 1997 ed.

Transliteration schemes for non-roman scripts. Developed and maintained by Library of Congress.

Subject Headings (General)

Library of Congress Subject Headings

List of subject headings for all subjects, generally for larger research libraries. Developed and maintained by Library of Congress, Cataloging Policy and Support Office, Subject Headings Editorial Team.

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Annual.
  • Available online within Classification Web: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress.

Library of Congress Subject Headings Master Database

Database of subject heading authority records from which Library of Congress Subject Headings is generated. Coordinated by Library of Congress, Cataloging Policy and Support Office, Subject Headings Editorial Team. These authorities are accessible through the Library of Congress’ online catalog and, after distribution, in the authority files of OCLC, RLIN, and other bibliographic utilities.

  • Available by FTP: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Weekly.

LC Subject Headings Weekly Lists

Current additions, deletions, and changes to Library of Congress Subject Headings, including those not printed or distributed yet. Compiled by Library of Congress, Cataloging Policy and Support Office, Subject Headings Editorial Team.

Annotated Card Program AC Subject Headings

List of subject headings for children’s literature. Developed and maintained by Library of Congress. This is included as a separate section within Library of Congress Subject Headings in print, microfiche, and CD-ROM formats and in LC Subject Headings Weekly Lists. Machine-readable heading authority records are included in and distributed with Library of Congress Subject Headings Master Database.

Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings, 5th ed. (1996)

Instructions for establishment and usage of Library of Congress subject headings and subject subdivisions. Developed and maintained by Library of Congress, Cataloging Policy and Support Office.

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Looseleaf, with updates.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

SACO Participants’ Manual (2001)

Procedures and guidelines followed by participants in the Subject Authority Cooperative Program. Developed for the SACO Program of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC).

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.
  • Available online: www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/saco/sacomanual.pdf

Free-floating Subdivisions

Alphabetical index to free-floating subject subdivisions used with Library of Congress Subject Headings. Developed and maintained by Library of Congress, Cataloging Policy and Support Office.

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Annual.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

LC Period Subdivisions Under Names of Places, 5th edition (1994)

Alphabetical list of established place names with subject period subdivisions established in Library of Congress Subject Headings. Developed and maintained by Library of Congress, Cataloging Policy and Support Office.

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress.

Medical Subject Headings

Developed and maintained by United States National Library of Medicine.

  • Available in print: Bethesda, Md.: National Library of Medicine; Washington: Distributed by U.S. G.P.O. Annual.
  • Available online from NLM  in ASCII and XML formats: www.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/filelist.html
    • Annotated alphabetic List
    • with notes for indexers, catalogers, and searchers.
    • Tree Structures
    • presented in hierarchical ordering.
    • Permuted Medical Subject Headings
    • listed by every significant word or root in any heading or cross reference.
  • Available in print: Bethesda, Md.: National Library of Medicine; Springfield, Va.: Distributor, National Technical Information Service. Annual.
  • Available on microfiches: Springfield, Va.: National Technical Information Service.

Sears list of subject headings, 17th ed. (2000)

List of subject headings for all subjects, generally for smaller public and school libraries.

  • Available in print: New York: H. W. Wilson Co.

Art & Architecture Thesaurus, 2d ed. (1994)

Developed on behalf of the Getty Art History Information Program.

  • Available in print and online: New York: Oxford Univ. Pr.

Classification (General)

Library of Congress Classification

Separate schedules, in different editions, for classes A–Z. Developed and maintained by Library of Congress, Cataloging Policy and Support Office.

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress.
  • Updated by LC Classification, Additions and Changes: Washington: Cataloging Policy and Support Office, Library of Congress. Quarterly
  • Available online within Classification Web: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress.
  • Available in MARC21 authority format by FTP: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Weekly.

Subject Cataloging Manual: Classification

Instructions for establishing and using classes in Library of Congress classification. Specifically relevant to serials are sections F 210 and 220 (Periodicals), F 603 (Government documents), F 610 (Indexes), and F 720 (Supplementary works). Developed and maintained by Library of Congress, Cataloging and Support Office.

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Looseleaf.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

Subject Cataloging Manual: Shelflisting, 2d ed. (1995)

Instructions for shelflisting call numbers using Library of Congress classification. Specifically relevant to serials are sections G 180 (Designations), G 220 (Corporate bodies), and G 820 (Serials). Developed and maintained by Library of Congress, Cataloging and Support Office.

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Looseleaf.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

Dewey Decimal Classification and Relative Index, 21st ed. (1996)

Available also in abridged version (13th ed., 1997).

  • Available in print: Dublin, Ohio: OCLC Forest Pr.
  • Available online as Web Dewey: Dublin, Ohio: OCLC Forest Pr.

National Library of Medicine Classification, 5th ed., 1999 revision

Developed by United States National Library of Medicine.

  • Available in print: Bethesda, Md.: National Library of Medicine; Washington: For sale by Supt. of Docs., U. S. G.P.O.
  • Available also online: wwwcf.nlm.nih.gov/class/

GPO Classification Manual, Revised Jan. 1993

Principles and policies for use of Superintendent of Documents Classification for publications of the United States government. Developed by Superintendent of Documents, United States Government Printing Office.

  • Available in print: Washington: Supt. of Docs., U. S. G.P.O.

List of Classes of United States Government Publications Available for Selection by Depository Libraries

List of classes for United States government agencies assigned in Superintendent of Documents Classification by the United States Government Printing Office.

Universal Decimal Classification, 2d English full ed. (1993–)

Originally developed by the International Federation for Documentation.

  • Available in print: London: British Standards Institution.

Extensions and Corrections to the UDC, (1993–)

Developed by the International Federation for Documentation.

  • Available in print: The Hague: UDC Consortium.

Bliss Bibliographic Classification. 2d ed. (1999)

Maintained by Bliss Classification Association.

  • Available in print: London: Bowker Saur.
  • Supplemented by Bliss Classification Bulletin: London: Commonwealth Institute. Annual.

MARC (General)

United States standards for representation and exchange of bibliographic and related data in machine-readable form. Developed and maintained by Library of Congress, Network Development and MARC Standards Office. Additional information available online from the MARC21 home page: lcweb.loc.gov/marc/

  • MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data, 1999 edition
  • MARC 21 Format for Authority Data, 1999 edition
  • MARC 21 Format for Classification Data, 2000 edition
  • MARC 21 Format for Holdings Data 2000 edition

The above are available:

  • In print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Looseleaf, with updates.
  • On CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

MARC Concise Formats

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Looseleaf, with updates.

for Bibliographic Data

for Authority Data

for Classification Data

for Holdings Data

MARC Code Lists

MARC Code List for Countries, 2000 ed.
MARC Code List for Geographic Areas, 2002 ed.
MARC Code List for Languages, 2000 ed.
MARC Code List for Relators, Sources, Description Conventions, 2000 ed.
MARC Code List for Organizations, 2000 ed.

The above code lists are available:

  • In print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress.
  • On CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

Guidelines for the Use of Field 856, Rev. August 1999

Instructions for giving data in USMARC bibliographic field 856 (electronic location and access). Developed and maintained by Library of Congress, Network Development and MARC Standards Office.

UNIMARC (General)

International standards for representation and exchange of bibliographic data in machine-readable form. Developed and maintained by Permanent UNIMARC Committee, Universal Bibliographic Control and International MARC Core Programme, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.

UNIMARC Manual: Bibliographic Format, 2d ed. (1994)

  • Available in print: Munich; London: K.G. Saur. Has 1996 update.

UNIMARC Authorities, 2d ed. (2001)

  • Available in print: Munich; London: K.G. Saur.

Other Cataloging-Related Standards

Library of Congress Filing Rules (1980)

Guidelines for filing headings in catalogs, incorporating principles of Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, 2d ed., suitable also for computer filing. Developed by Library of Congress.

  • Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress.
  • Available on CD-ROM within Cataloger’s Desktop: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly, in cumulative issues.

ALA Filing Rules (1980)

Guidelines for filing headings in catalogs, incorporating principles of Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, 2d ed., suitable also for computer filing. Developed by Filing Committee, ALA.

  • Available in print: Chicago: ALA.

Frequent Sources of Related Information

CONSER Program Home Page

Library of Congress Cataloging Distribution Service provides a list of manuals and training tools that are available for purchase. Available online: http://www.loc.gov/acq/conser/scctp/

Library of Congress Cataloging Policy and Support Office (CPSO) Home Page: Updates, drafts, and news related to standards from Library of Congress. Available online: lcweb.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/

Cataloging Service Bulletin: Updates to standards from Library of Congress, Cataloging Policy and Support Office. Available in print: Washington: Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress. Quarterly.

Tools for Serials Catalogers developed by Ann Ercelawn includes cataloging documentation from CONSER, LC, MARC and OCLC; minutes from ALCTS Committee to Study Serials Cataloging (CSSC) meetings; e-mail addresses for cataloging questions/problems; and discussion list archives including Serialst. Available online: www.library.vanderbilt.edu/ercelawn/serials.html

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