Library Science Cataloging and Classification 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which authority file is maintained by the Library of Congress and used to standardize subject headings?
- Sears List
- LCSH (Correct answer)
- MeSH
- BISAC
Correct answer: LCSH
The Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) is the authoritative thesaurus used by most US academic and public libraries for subject cataloging.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a call number in library cataloging?
- To record the ISBN of a book
- To identify the physical location of an item on the shelf (Correct answer)
- To list all authors of a work
- To encode digital metadata
Correct answer: To identify the physical location of an item on the shelf
A call number provides a unique address for each item in the collection, guiding patrons and staff to its physical location on the shelves.
Question 3: What does 'copy cataloging' mean in library practice?
- Photocopying catalog cards
- Adapting an existing bibliographic record from a shared database (Correct answer)
- Creating duplicate records for the same item
- Cataloging identical copies of the same edition
Correct answer: Adapting an existing bibliographic record from a shared database
Copy cataloging involves finding and adapting an existing bibliographic record (e.g., from OCLC WorldCat) rather than creating one from scratch.
Question 4: In FRBR, which entity represents a specific physical item such as a single book on a shelf?
- Work
- Expression
- Manifestation
- Item (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Item
In FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records), 'Item' is the single physical object you can hold, such as one specific copy of a book.
Question 5: Which Dewey Decimal number range is assigned to literature and rhetoric?
- 400–499
- 500–599
- 700–799
- 800–899 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 800–899
The 800s in the Dewey Decimal Classification are dedicated to literature and rhetoric, including fiction, poetry, and drama.
Question 6: What is a 'fixed field' in a MARC record?
- A field that cannot be edited once created
- A field of defined length containing coded data in specific character positions (Correct answer)
- A field always present in every record
- A field used only for serials
Correct answer: A field of defined length containing coded data in specific character positions
Fixed fields in MARC, such as the Leader and 008, have defined lengths where each character position encodes specific information like date, language, or format.
Library Science Cataloging and Classification 2
Which authority file is maintained by the Library of Congress and used to standardize subject headings?