About the PCC
An international cooperative
program coordinated jointly by the Library of Congress & PCC participants
around the world.
Message from the PCC Chair - What
is the PCC - Membership beneifts - History
of the PCC - Growth chart - Organization
structure - Accomplishments - Ongoing activities
Components in brief: NACO - BIBCO - CONSER - SACO
PCC Training - PCC Manuals -
Who to contact - How to subscribe
to the PCClist
At a Glance
A bold initiative in cooperative cataloging....
Here is a brief synopsis of the most successful and dynamic program in the
history of bibliographic control. Gaining in momentum, the PCC expands its
benefits to all cataloging professionals who strive to provide wider and deeper
access to library collections. We urge you to become a participant in this
important program.
What is the PCC?
The Program for Cooperative Cataloging is an international
cooperative effort aimed at expanding access to library collections by providing
useful, timely, and cost-effective cataloging that meets mutually-accepted
standards of libraries around the world.
Goals
- Cooperatively enhance the timely availability of bibliographic and authority
records by cataloging more items, producing cataloging that is widely available
for sharing and use by others, and performing cataloging in a more cost-effective
manner.
- Develop and maintain mutually acceptable standards for records.
- Promote the values of timely access and cost-effectiveness in cataloging,
and expand the pool of catalogers who catalog using the mutually-accepted
standards.
- Increase the sharing and use of foreign bibliographic and authority records.
- Provide for ongoing discussion, planning, and operations among participants
in order to further the program's mission.
On the PCC Homepage read
the PCC's Five-Year Strategic Plan (an in-depth presentation of the goals
above) to learn how the Program will achieve these goals.
Membership benefits of the PCC
- Participate in the programs of the largest cooperative cataloging operations
in the world and help to shape the future of cataloging practice.
- Participate in the development and review of national and international
cataloging standards designed to create more reliable and cost-efficient
cataloging copy.
- Reduce the cost of cataloging operations by increasing the number of cataloging
records that can be used with little or no local editing.
- Reduce the amount of authority creation and maintenance that must be done
locally by increasing the number of authority records contributed through
NACO and SACO.
- Update and enhance monographic, serial, and authority records, including
those created by national libraries.
- Receive staff training by experienced PCC trainers.
- Interact with colleagues at national libraries and other institutions.
- Receive free-of-charge training and cataloging documentation provided to
NACO, BIBCO, and CONSER participants.
- Reduce the cataloging burden on a local scale through collective efforts
on a global scale.
- Influence the Program's objectives, policies, and standards through service
on its standing committees and task forces.
"Perhaps the greatest significance of the PCC is the foundation
it provides for moving from a unidimensional, rules-centered definition
of bibliographic 'quality' to one that is multidimensional and user-centered.
Today's library administrations expect technical service departments
to do more with less and to be accountable, flexible, and both aware
of and responsive to user needs. The PCC not only takes the notion
and practice of cooperative cataloging to a new level its philosophy
is the key to technical services departments' having a chance of meeting
these expectations."
-- Karen Calhoun,
Director, Central
Technical Services,
Cornell University |
The Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) was initiated in February 1995,
building on the success of the NACO and CONSER programs which originated in
the 1970s. The PCC was a product of deliberations of the Cooperative Cataloging
Council (CCC), which began its work in April 1993. The CCC itself was conceived
at a meeting of various participants in cooperative library programs that was
held at the Library of Congress in November 1992. The Council envisioned a
program that by the year 2000 would annually produce significant numbers of
authority and bibliographic records created by an ever increasing membership
of program participants. In November 1996, the CONSER Policy Committee and
the PCC Executive Council met to discuss the merging of the two cooperative
cataloging programs. The consolidation became effective in October 1997. Today,
the PCC has four components:
NACO--the name authority program
SACO--the subject authority program
BIBCO--the monographic bibliographic record program
CONSER--the cooperative online
serials program
Growth chart
The table below demonstrates the steady growth of the PCC from its inception
in 1992 through 2003.
GROWTH OF THE PCC FROM 1992 - -
2003 |
|
1992 |
2003 |
NACO participants |
91 |
419 |
SACO participants |
18 |
127 (*37) |
BIBCO participants |
0 |
46 |
CONSER participants |
20 |
41** |
Name authority records added |
66,318 |
167,163 |
Series authority records added |
1,427 |
9,324 |
Subject authority records added |
678 |
3,509 |
Monographic bibliographic records added |
9,460 |
74,793 |
Growth of CONSER database |
653,000 |
984,301 |
* 37 libraries contribute only to the SACO Program. ** Includes CONSER
Enhance members
"The PCC offers catalogers an opportunity to contribute high quality
bibliographic and authority records...catalogers correct their weaknesses
and build on their strengths. This is a win-win situation!"
-- Andrea
Stamm, Head, Catalog Department
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois |
Organization of the PCC
The POLICY COMMITTEE is responsible for guiding the governance of the Program
as a whole: to develop, review, and approve long term strategies, plans, goals,
and objectives. Its membership is drawn from diverse library constituencies,
including five permanent representatives: British Library, Library of Congress,
National Library of Canada, OCLC and RLG.
Eight rotating PCC partners are elected by program members from full, active
participants in BIBCO (3), CONSER (3), and NACO (2).
The STEERING COMMITTEE is composed of five permanent members: three Library
of Congress representatives, and one representative each from OCLC, and RLG.
Rounding out the Committee are the Chair and Chair-Elect of the Policy Committee.
The Steering Committee approves PCC membership applications, directs the strategic
planning process for the Program, seeks and manages resources.
Completing the PCC governance structure are two OPERATIONS and three STANDING
COMMITTEES:
BIBCO OPERATIONS COMMITTEE--maintains efficient and effective
BIBCO activity locally and across the Program. It establishes operational procedures,
suggests changes to policies and practices, develops and maintains documentation,
and contributes to the development of standards for monographic publications
and integrating resources in all formats.
CONSER OPERATIONS COMMITTEE--maintains efficient and effective
CONSER activity locally and across the Program. It establishes operational
procedures, suggests changes to policies and practices, helps develop and maintain
documentation, and contributes to the development of standards for serial publications
and integrating resources.
STANDING COMMITTEE on AUTOMATION--identifies
automation issues to be resolved in order to implement the mission of the Program,
formulates plans to present PCC requirements to vendors, and facilitates cooperation
among Program participants and the bibliographic utilities.
STANDING COMMITTEE on STANDARDS--develops
and promotes use of mutually acceptable standards that support creation and
wide use of records in a cost- effective manner. This committee also maintains
representation on the ALCTS Committee on Cataloging: Description and Access.
STANDING COMMITTEE on TRAINING--establishes
cataloger training programs, workshops, and institutes aimed at developing
cataloging skills of PCC members through continuing education.
- Established standards for core records for books, music, sound recordings,
non-roman languages, audiovisual materials, computer files, collections,
rare books, and serials in all formats.
- Simplified and streamlined documentation for the contribution of name and
series authorities as well as the development of the SACO Participants'
Manual.
- Streamlined the editorial process for the contribution of subject heading
proposals to LCSH, classification numbers to LCC and
cutter numbers for literary authors through the creation of a World Wide
Web form.
- Implemented standardized training programs.
- Expanded participation of national libraries, research libraries, and cataloging
agencies in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Hong Kong, Ireland,
Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales.
- Fostered initiatives to align and harmonize USMARC, CAN/MARC, and UKMARC
into MARC21.
- Developed and continue to maintain standardized documentation for the cataloging
of serials.
- Formulated guidelines and persuaded vendors to make available MARC record
sets to describe the full text resources in selected aggregator databases.
- Facilitated cooperation among LC, Program participants, and the bibliographic
utilities to support the Program's automation goals and requirements.
- Defined and implemented procedures for the national default treatment of
series publications.
- Recommended changes to AACR2 to allow for greater efficiency in series
tracing when form of numbering is the only variant.
- Established task groups to make recommendations for streamlining cross
references, to define the function of authority files, to prepare catalogers
for implementation of integrating resources, to identify the training needs
of the library community at large, and to recommend mechanisms to assure
broader and more efficient dissemination of training documentation.
- Participated in the revision/correction project of undifferentiated personal
names during the Library of Congress conversion to pinyin from Wade-Giles.
In today's developing global bibliographic network, shared authority work
is an absolute requirement. Since libraries began implementing AACR2 on a worldwide
scale, the creation, updating, and maintenance of standardized and consistent
authority files has provided major challenges to catalogers. In addition, the
ever-increasing number of publications in a wide variety of languages, scripts,
and formats has renewed the need for and interest in cooperative bibliographic
initiatives.
- Promoting efforts to provide access and control to electronic materials,
including the development of the CONSER single record option for online
versions.
- Publishing the NACO Participants' Manual, NACO Trainer's Manual, BIBCO
Trainer's Manual, BIBCO Participant's Manual, and the SACO Participant's
Manual.
- Producing the CONSER database for distribution through the Library of
Congress and the National Library of Canada. Publishing regular updates
of the CONSER Editing Guide and the CONSER Cataloging Manual; semiannual
issues of CONSERline.
- Publishing serials cataloging documents on the World Wide Web through
the CONSER homepage.
- Developing standardized training materials and training instructors through
the SCCTP and the Standing Committee on Training.
- Creating and maintaining the Program for Cooperative Cataloging Website.
Program for Cooperative Cataloging
Components of the Program
NACO
NAME AUTHORITY COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
Through this program, participants contribute new and updated authority records
for names, uniform titles, and series to the national authority file. An individual
institution may join this program, or a group of libraries with a common interest
may form a "funnel project" to contribute records via a coordinator who assumes
responsibility in the joint effort.
PURPOSE
Participants agree to follow a common set of standards and guidelines when
creating or changing authority records in order to maintain the integrity of
an internationally shared authority file.
TRAINING
A week of specialized > NACO training is undertaken by participants, optionally
at their home institutions or at LC. During the training, guidelines are discussed
and expanded upon with an ever-growing awareness of the need to streamline
cataloging efforts while building a consistent and predictable file. This file
will help the global library community >work more efficiently and effectively,
allowing it to >maximize its resources.
NEW NAME AUTHORITY RECORD CONTRIBUTIONS
NACO participants may contribute new name authority records and make changes
to existing records within established guidelines. In addition, participants
may contribute authority records for series and uniform title.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON NACO
Visit the NACO World Wide Web site for the most frequently asked questions
(FAQ) about the program, a checklist of training materials, the training outline
and much more at: www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/naco.html
"NACO is a lifesaver for me knowing that once I create an
authority record, I know what the heading will be. Considering all
the database maintenance I have to do, NACO saves me tons of time.
One does not have to re-invent the wheel."
--Robert C.W. Hall, Jr.
Technical Services Associate Librarian
Concord Free Public Library |
SACO
SUBJECT AUTHORITY COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
Through this program participants propose subject headings for inclusion in
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) and classification number proposals
or changes for inclusion in the Library of Congress classification (LCC) schedules.
PURPOSE
SACO libraries propose new subject headings and classification numbers that
contribute to the development of LCSH and LC classification schedules so that
these cataloging tools better reflect users' needs throughout the library community.
Changes to existing subject authority records may also be proposed.
TRAINING
Participants attend subject cataloging workshops offered by the Library of
Congress -- either in conjunction with library-related meetings and conferences,
or as part of the PCC.
SUBMITTING PROPOSALS
Detailed guidelines are provided for submitting proposals using either an
online proposal form available on the PCC Web site, or by using printed forms
available from the Library of Congress.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SACO
Visit the PCC Home Page for in-depth information about all of the SACO topics
mentioned above at: www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/saco.html
"The ability to propose new subject headings and to develop
LCSH beyond the confines of US libraries' collection development
policies is of immense benefit to us - - it means that concepts reflected
in our collections and cultural traditions can quickly and easily
be supported by authority records made available to the whole community.
The alternative - local authority records - would benefit nobody
except ourselves."
--Hugh Taylor, Head of Cataloguing
Cambridge University Library, Cambridge England
|
BIBCO
MONOGRAPHIC BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
Through this program participants that are already NACO members contribute
bibliographic records to the national databases. BIBCO members are responsible
for contributing full or core level bibliographic records. These records are
identified as PCC records and notable for their complete authority work (both
descriptive and subject), a national level call number (such as LC classification
or NLM classification), and one or more subject access points drawn from nationally
recognized thesauri such as LCSH, MeSH, etc., as appropriate.
TRAINING
Participating librarians attend a training session designed specifically for
their needs held at their own institution. The course focuses on the core bibliographic
record and the values and decision-making skills necessary to catalogers in
producing quality cataloging data. Training is provided by expert staff from
PCC libraries.
Comments on experiences from training evaluation forms: "Given
insights into the flexibility of the program"; "the information was concise
and specific, repeated and summarized for clarification"; "I've come away from
the training ready to participate!"; "balanced, professional, and included
humor"; "Excellent!...Informative and enjoyable."
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BIBCO
Visit the PCC Home Page for BIBCO news, documentation, training and other
information at: www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/bibco.html
"It is nice to belong to an umbrella organization that
actually values, in fact encourages, the development of catalogers'
professional judgment. BIBCO offers a well- organized, ready-trained
force of professional catalogers who will knock the socks off any
vendor-driven outsourcing effort. We create dependable records for
you - - you create dependable records for us. It is cooperative cataloging
at its best... Standards should be the bedrock on which to build...
'core', as a floor standard, allows me to build firmly on bibliographic
records that contain mutually-valued and proven variable fields,
authorized access points, and a reliable classification number. I
appreciate the fact that with the core standard I know what to expect.
I don't have to wonder, like Forrest Gump, what I will get when I
reach into and choose from the bibliographic box of chocolates."
--John B. Wright
Foreign Languages Team Leader, Spanish Language Cataloger
Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
|
CONSER
COOPERATIVE ONLINE SERIALS PROGRAM
CONSER began in the early 1970s as a project to convert manual serial cataloging
into machine-readable records and has evolved into an ongoing program to create
and maintain high quality bibliographic records for serials. In keeping with
its evolution, the name was changed in 1986 from the CONSER (CONversion of
SERials) Project to the CONSER (Cooperative ONline Serials) Program.
PURPOSE
CONSER's goals today are twofold: 1) to produce and maintain a widely-available
database of authoritative records for serials in all media, and 2) to contribute
to serials cataloging and technical services by working to set standards, creating
authoritative documentation and training materials, and addressing major issues
related to serials through study, international discussion, and innovative
projects.
CONSER RECORD CONTRIBUTIONS
The CONSER database resides within the OCLC Online Union Catalog. CONSER members
authenticate, input, and modify serial cataloging records on OCLC or contribute
original records via FTP. Authentication is the process of approving the descriptive
and subject elements in the record and providing for the record's availability
through distribution services and bibliographic products. Different membership
levels have been created to accommodate a variety of record contributions.
The four categories of CONSER membership are Full, Associate, CONSER Enhance,
and Affiliate. Associate Level membership includes cooperative projects as
well as single institutions.
TRAINING
New CONSER members are trained by experienced serials catalogers from the
Library of Congress or other CONSER institutions. The training generally lasts
3 to 5 days, and is followed by a review period.
"CONSER produces high quality, accurate serial records for what are
all-too-often incredibly complicated publications. Because CONSER participants
genuinely care about doing an outstanding job, everyone - - serials acquisitions
librarians, union listing agents, collection development and reference
librarians, serials vendors, and library patrons - - benefits. CONSER's
commitment to cooperation, to quality, to standards, and to the education
of serials catalogers is exemplary." --
Cindy Hepfer
Health Sciences Library
State University of New York at Buffalo, New York |
SERIALS CATALOGING COOPERATIVE TRAINING PROGRAM (SCCTP)
The CONSER Program commissions the production of authoritative training materials
in serials cataloging or related subjects, such as serials holdings, and provides
training for instructors in each course offered. The course materials are available
from the Library of Congress' Cataloging Distribution Service. Institutional
sponsors plan and schedule the training workshops.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CONSER
Visit theCONSER World Wide Web site at: www.loc.gov/acq/conser
CONSER is a model of leadership, action, and results. It provides
a venue for participants to develop solutions to common problems, create
new approaches to serials management, and to be actively involved in
shaping the future of serials cataloging."
--Sally Sinn,
Associate
Director, Technical Services Division
National Agricultural Library,
Beltsville, Maryland |
PROJECTS
CONSER pursues the enrichment of the serial bibliographic environment through
projects and the work of task forces. Past CONSER-led efforts have added abstracting
and indexing data to serial bibliographic records and launched the development
of record sets for publications included in electronic aggregators. Currently,
the CONSER Publication Pattern Initiative is developing technical capabilities
and a cooperative program for creating and sharing serial publication pattern
and holdings data in the MARC 21 holdings format.
About PCC Training
In support of its mission and goals, the Program for Cooperative Cataloging
conducts specialized training for participants in conjunction with professional
meetings and conferences, or as part of the Program itself with training held
at the Library of Congress or PCC libraries around the world.
Intensive courses are offered in three PCC programs: >NACO,
SACO, and BIBCO. In addition to providing training for its members, CONSER
has developed the Serials Cataloging Cooperative Training Program, a cooperative
endeavor to produce standardized training materials and to train experienced
serials catalogers to be trainers. These workshops, which are sponsored by
other organizations, are open to all.
For an overview of skills training, visit NACO at www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/naco/naco.html and
view the "NACO Training Outline."
The Value of PCC Manuals
Another added benefit of PCC training is the practical, every-day value of
the PCC training manuals and materials. The NACO Participants' Manual, CONSER
Editing Guide, CONSER Cataloging Manual, and BIBCO Training Manual--each
manual is unique to the library community for offering specialized and comprehensive
guidelines on a host of cataloging topics applicable to a cataloger's daily
work.
The manuals are valuable to all catalogers--not only PCC participants--who
seek professional development. They are also suitable for courses in library
schools.
"Our participation as BIBCO contributors has resulted in
a sharpening of our skills, an increase in our authority record contributions,
and an overall boost in cataloger morale."
--Jimmie Lundgren,
Head, Science Cataloging Unit
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida |
JOIN THE PCC NOW!
If you would like to learn more about the Program for Cooperative Cataloging
or about participating in BIBCO, NACO, SACO, please contact the Cooperative
Cataloging Team.
For an application to join the Program for Cooperative Cataloging,
use the available form at: www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/nacoappl.html or
contact the
Cooperative Cataloging Team
Regional and Cooperative Cataloging Division
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20540-4382
Tel.: 202.707.2822
Fax: 202.252.2082
Carolyn Sturtevant, BIBCO coordinator e-mail: cast@loc.gov
If you would like to learn more about CONSER and its programs, please contact:
Leslie Hawkins
CONSER Coordinator
Serial Record Division
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20540-4160
Tel.: 202.707.5947
Fax: 202.707.1778
E-mail: lhaw@loc.gov
"Cooperative cataloging is spreading beyond the bibliographic record;
and the only way to justify our existence in this age of heightened budget
consciousness is to find ways of cooperating further, to spread the benefits
of our work further than our individual databases."
--Frieda Rosenberg
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
|