The Copy-based Cataloging Section catalogs English and foreign-language monographs that already have acceptable cataloging records on OCLC. We edit the OCLC records, following OCLC input standards as well as any cataloging standards unique to the MIT Libraries. We also search and verify personal and corporate names, series, and subject headings, creating new authority records as needed.
While most of our work is monographs, we also catalog some non-book materials, such as videos, microforms, and maps.
As books are received and processed by the Acquisitions Department, they are placed the MCU work supply shelves, which we like to call 'The Wall'. The books are kept on 'the Wall' in chronological order, according to the date of receipt. As work supply, each cataloger takes a section of books and other types of material from 'the Wall' and searches each title on OCLC.
If we find acceptable cataloging records input by the Library of Congress or contributing libraries, we catalog these materials for the MIT Libraries, following any special instructions peculiar to our various divisional and branch libraries.
The remainder of the materials are either sent out to the libraries as 'precataloged material' (PRECAT) or are searched in the RLIN system. Materials that are sent out PRECAT, come back to the MCU Section after one year. Then they are searched again and are cataloged.
Once cataloged, materials are normally held for an overnight period. This allows the OCLC records produced the previous day to to be loaded into the Advance data base. At this point, the cataloger can effect quality control. After the cataloger verifies correct call #, location between book and on-line record, the materials are sent to the bindery.
The Database Maintenance Section is responsible for bibliographic database integrity, monograph holdings maintenance, cataloging of current MIT theses, and several ongoing retrospective conversion projects.
Responsible for creating metadata for digital objects
This unit is responsible for cataloging MIT theses and all MIT technical reports that are in standing order classed together series.
See also the Collection Services Contacts page, which is a list of contacts for specific problems and situations within Collection Services as a whole.
Back to the main Collection Services page.
Last updated on 080416