RELATED LINKS
"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."
The Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) is one of the most successful
and dynamic programs in the history of bibliographic control. The Program's
remarkable track record is based on the voluntary cooperation of member
libraries that range from small to large to very large, including the
Library of Congress. All of these libraries agree to adhere to established
standards when creating records that will be stamped with the imprimatur of
the PCC. While each member library is expected to meet a certain threshold
of production each year, there is no expectation that every record produced
will conform to PCC standards. This is a vital and important point. Each
PCC library is accorded the freedom and the right to determine its own
internal policies and procedures and the level to which its total cataloging
output will conform to PCC conventions. There is nothing in the PCC
guidelines to abrogate a member’s flexibility to contribute nationally as
well as to accommodate local needs and practices.
In recognition of this fundamental aspect of PCC participation, the PCC
Policy Committee (PoCo) formally recognizes and affirms the right of the
Library of Congress (LC) to make cataloging decisions in its own best
interest. In this regard, PoCo is unwilling to judge LC differently than
it would any other member library. Therefore, the PCC will not take a
stand against the recent decision to discontinue series authority control.
Although this may sound strange in light of the shock and outrage reflected
in the various statements, petitions and resolutions that have been issued, the stance makes sense given the type of organization that PCC strives to be. Were a poll to be conducted, it would not be surprising to find nearly as many different opinions about the series decision as there are PCC trained catalogers. Therefore, if consensus exists, it does so only on the point that all PCC members participate at a level that works for them.
That said it is impossible to ignore the fact that this particular change
in LC cataloging policy has widespread ramifications—especially in a context
where, until now, there has been a one-to-one correspondence between LC and
PCC standards. Over the past several weeks, many thoughtful documents
have detailed the potential impacts of the decision, sparking debate about
end-user interest in controlled series access, the cost/benefit of providing
it, the amount of additional effort that may be required to perform series
work that LC will no longer be doing as well as developing policy and maintaining
needed documentation. These are issues that will continue to engage the
PCC and the bibliographic community at large for some time to come. Several meetings at the upcoming ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, including the one for PCC Participants (Sunday, 6/25, 4-6 p.m.), will be devoted to continuing the dialogue on these topics.
For the moment, PoCo wants to make it clear that PCC series policy remains
status quo. Member libraries that believe value is derived from series authority
control are encouraged to continue this work in accordance with established
guidelines and procedures. PoCo will continue to work with the PCC Steering
Committee, including the Library of Congress as it executes its role as the
PCC Secretariat, to make this transition to a future without LC series
control.
|