Unit 9: cataloging my Sutro District collection

I have two journal articles in my collection, and I think it can be helpful to try to find the abstracts in a noted database such as Ebsco, and then see the subject terms listed in the record. Additionally, I have two films that are part of the Library of Congress’ American Memory Project. Subject terms are quite explicit in these records and have been helpful in focusing subject listings of my collection.

I believe that I’ve been the most consistent with Dspace regarding my collection, as with Dspace I was able to utilize both ATT & LCSH – additionally, my LCSH listings were fairly granular in Dspace. With Eprints, I could not achieve the granularity with my subject listings that I could with Dspace. For instance, with Eprints I could only choose Psychology for some of my objects when what I really wanted to choose was ghosts, a subheading under Psychology. Additionally, I like using ATTs definition of ruins vs. LCSH definition of ruins, the latter being specific to ruins in antiquity. The ATT definition of ruins is broader, encompassing contemporary ruins as well. Obviously the Sutro Baths ruins cannot be described as ruins from antiquity.

Overall I’m enjoying cataloging my collection, but I can see how good, detailed cataloging can be very time-consuming and thus very expensive in a real working environment. But I can also understand how you wouldn't want to cut any corners when it comes to cataloging, as the metadata is key to access; if no one can find your collection, it may as well not exist.