It looks like Amy will resolve many of the cataloging questions; WorldCat is like gold, IMHO.

 

I might also suggest that the Texas chapter of Special Libraries Association (SLA) might be a possible source; there are likely other collections holding those titles or similar, cousinly titles, and those call numbers can guide you in how you catalog.  I assume these are geology/petroleum/etc., as to subject matter. There might be some peculiarities on a few of the books, but I believe the real problematic ones remaining could be directed to a major TX library which holds a strong petroleum/energy collection. I would hope a cataloger there could shed some light on the really tough ones.  In addition, there is a Petroleum & Energy Resources division within SLA.   One can pull these up by going to http://www.sla.org, then exploring SLA communities.  

 

Also, if Amy's collection is small, then more general cataloging might suffice instead of super in-depth.  

 

 

Hello everyone,

 

Thanks to everyone who replied to my message.  Your advice is greatly appreciated!  I am going to do some searching on World Cat and see if I can work something out with the local libraries to use OCLC.  And for the pesky stubborn few that are left after that, I will hit the books/web pages.  Thanks again!

 

Summary-

 

Most everyone suggested either using world cat or OCLC Firstsearch.  I checked out world cat and found it to be quite useful.  Here is a link to the search page http://worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/oclc/54702868?tab=reviews. 

 

Here are the books that were suggested

 

• "Cataloging and Classification" by Chan. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0070105065/sr=8-1/qid=1150819565/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-5001167-7897518?%5Fencoding=UTF8

 

• Dr. Chan at UK has written a number of such volumes, including "Cataloging and Classification: An Introduction" (The standard textbook for first semester cataloging courses).

 

 

Web Pages

• http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/lcco.html

 

• A section from UCLA's Cataloging Department Manual http://www.library.ucla.edu/cataloging/manuals/callnum/callpt21.htm

 

• Once you've got the basics on how the numbers are built, you'll actually have to build them.  To do this, you'll need access to the classification schedules and cutter tables.  There are two easy ways to get to these if you don't want to purchase them: 

 

• 1- You can sign up for a 30-day free trial to the Cataloger's Desktop through LOC.  [http://www.loc.gov/cds/desktop/]  This will give you access to all the manuals, etc.
• 2- Find a depository library near you.  Most of these will have the schedules as part of their government documents collection.  Some libraries will even let you check them out and lug them home.  I often did this while working on cataloging homework in library school.  J   For a list of depositories in Texas:  http://www.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/modalldep.cgi?cmd+TX

 

• Some information such as the LC cutter tables [http://staff.library.mun.ca/staff/toolbox/tables/lccutter.htm] can be found online at the Cataloger's Toolbox [http://staff.library.mun.ca/staff/toolbox/].

 

• To do original cataloging, you will ideally need access to a tool such as the Library of Congress Classification Web -- see http://www.loc.gov/cds/classweb/

 

• http://www.librarything.com/

 

 

Thanks again!

 

Amy Hooker

The Petroleum Museum