Descriptive Cataloging: The History and Practice of Describing Library Resources

Abstract

Descriptive cataloging is the process of representing resources by recording their identifying traits and selecting specific names and titles to serve as access points. It is a key component of the larger cataloging process alongside subject cataloging, authority work, and encoding. Descriptive cataloging practices have existed for centuries and, over time, have become standardized through the use of cataloging codes. These documents guide this process by prescribing a consistent set of elements, providing directions on how to record these elements, and offering instructions on how to select and format access points. The goal of descriptive cataloging is not to create perfect representations but to provide data to serve users. The international cataloging standard Resource Description and Access (RDA) is now bringing more institutions under the same set of descriptive practices than ever before. This, along with recent technological developments, promises increased sharing and reuse of descriptive cataloging data.

The use of keywords in archaeornithology literature

“…They are highly focused on Google's obscure algorithms, which are subject to change at any time with no community oversight. They also ignore the vast field of description and cataloging practices established by library bibliometricians over the past century (Dobreski, 2021; Joachim, 2003; Roberto, 2015).…”

“…They also ignore the vast field of description and cataloging practices established by library bibliometricians over the past century (Dobreski, 2021;Joachim, 2003;Roberto, 2015).…”

Description: Its meaning, epistemology, and use with emphasis on information science

“…In libraries, two process have usually been distinguished: "descriptive cataloging" on the one hand and "subject cataloging" (classification and indexing) in contrast (see Dobreski, 2021). Reitz (2004) emphasizes the difference between the two processes in the following definition:…”