Highlights from the July 2015 SACO editorial meeting and LCSH monthly list.
SACO, emphases theirs
Here's SACO talking about why they don't fix stuff that seems easily fixable:
“The meeting has always marked some incomplete proposals as “resubmit” and sent them back to the proposing cataloger or institution. Formerly, policy specialists would complete some of the proposals themselves, or take certain things on faith and approve them. In the current era of diminished resources and increasing workloads, however, the policy specialists do not have time to complete others’ work for them. And providing incomplete information for consultation is a disservice to current and future catalogers.
Going forward, the meeting will return any incomplete proposals for revision. Although this action will constitute extra work on the policy specialists’ part, the hope is that it will be short-term pain for long-term gain: catalogers, once reminded, will submit more complete proposals from the outset. For most proposals, the extra time required will be negligible but will cumulatively save a significant amount of the policy specialists’ time, as well as that of current and future generations of catalogers.
In a further effort to increase the number of complete proposals, policy specialists will revise SHM H 202 and H 203. The guidance on source citations will be updated, and examples with full source citations will be included. The revisions will be available later this summer.”
NB: Some of the following “resubmit” decisions include a hypothetical example of information that might be added in a 670 field. These examples are NOT BASED on real information from the works being cataloged. In some cases, the works being cataloged are in languages that PSD specialists do not read, so, it was impossible to provide real citations. The examples are given only to show the types of information that would aid PSD in evaluation of the proposals. The works being cataloged and other sources should be consulted, and actual information from those sources should be recorded in the resubmitted proposals.
African American priests
The only evidence provided in support of this proposal was the title of the work being cataloged, SVD, 100 years of mission world-wide. Since there is not a clear relationship between the title and the proposed heading, the meeting was unable to evaluate the proposal.
Hypothetical example of an improved source citation (added information in italics):
670 $a Work cat: SVD, 100 years of mission world-wide, 1976: $b p. 5 (African American priests on world-wide missions)
The proposal may be resubmitted.
And then they tell the submitter how to fix it, which seems to me to take more time than fixing it themselves. I guess they're using this as a teaching moment for future proposers?
Backyard farming
The only evidence provided in support of this proposal was the title of the work being cataloged, Getting started with sheep and goats, plus three additional 670s containing only titles that support the use of the phrase “backyard farming.” However, no source was cited with a definition of “backyard farming.” It would be very important in this case for a definition to be provided because LCSH has other headings that could be confused with the heading being proposed. More information would be required to evaluate the appropriateness of the broader terms as well. The meeting had the following specific questions and comments:
What is “backyard farming”?
How is “backyard farming” different from Private plot agriculture; Farms, Small; Family farms; Gardening; etc.?
On the proposal, the cataloger questioned the meaning of the heading Private plot agriculture, which is an older heading in which no source information was retained. The meaning of the heading Private plot agriculture, therefore, must be determined by the cataloger through examination of other bib records to which the heading has been assigned as well as through further research in reference sources.
Is “backyard farming” always urban? (The BT Urban agriculture was in the proposal.)
Is “backyard farming” always done by families? (The BT Family farms was in the proposal.)
The term “home farms,” which is included as a UF, has a very specific meaning. “Home farms” are defined as a farm on an estate. Therefore, the UF Home farms, if included as a UF on the heading, would need a qualifier of some sort.
If “backyard farming” is a unique concept, distinguishable from existing headings in LCSH, it will probably need a scope note added to explain the distinction.
The proposal may be resubmitted.
Whatever. Don't you want to know more about Getting started with sheep and goats?
Dance—Semiotics
The work cat citation is the only justification provided for establishing this heading. While it is fairly apparent that the words in Spanish are descriptive of the content, a simple translation of the phrase into English should be provided.
Hypothetical example of an improved source citation (additional information in italics):
670 $a Work cat: 2015412821: Guerra, R. Develando la danza, 2013: $b p. 12 (semiótica danzaria = semiotics of dance)
The proposal may be resubmitted.
Pedantic.
Papermaking in art
The only evidence provided in support of this proposal was the title of the work being cataloged, Zao zhi shu hua pu. Since there was no information provided in English, the meeting was unable to evaluate the proposal.
Hypothetical example of an improved source citation (added information in italics):
670 $a Work cat: 2015411498: Zao zhi shu hua pu, 2014: $b p. 1 (papermaking depicted in Chinese art works)
The proposal may be resubmitted.
Pedantic.
LCSH, emphases mine
150 Bisexual teachers [May Subd Geog] [sp2015000964](A)
550 BT Teachers
150 Feminist haggadot [sp2015000307](C)
550 BT Haggadot
I can definitely employ this one on zines at Barnard!
150 Google Glass (Computer) [May Subd Geog] [sp2015001202](A)
450 UF Glass (Computer)
550 BT Eyewear
550 BT Wearable computers
RT Google GlAssholes. Also, just in time!
150 Indian women college students [May Subd Geog] [sp2015001148](C)
450 UF Women college students, Indian
550 BT Indian college students
550 BT Women college students
I can definitely employ this one on zines at Barnard!
150 Microaggressions [May Subd Geog] [sp2015001363](C)
550 BT Aggressiveness
550 BT Discrimination
550 BT Invective
150 Post-punk music [May Subd Geog] [sp2014100192](C)
450 UF Postpunk music
550 BT Punk rock music
Please help.
150 Psychobilly music [May Subd Geog] [sp2015000001](C)
053 ML3529.8 (History and criticism)
450 UF Neo-rockabilly music
450 UF Psycho (Music)
450 UF Psycho-rockabilly music
450 UF Punkabilly music
550 BT Punk rock music
550 BT Rockabilly music
Photo from Pinterest with limited metadata, but apparently it's a psychobilly flower.
150 Transgender teachers [May Subd Geog] [sp2015000965](A)
550 BT Teachers
Why not BT Transgender people?