Library of Congress
Cataloging Distribution Service (CDS)

Agency Update Session
Depository Library Conference
October 23, 2002
What CDS Does
? CDS develops and markets Library of Congress cataloging tools that ensure access to collections and resources.
? CDS operates under statutory authorization (2 USC 150)	

CDS Products
? LC Bibliographic & Authority Record Databases 
? LC Subject Headings
? LC Classification Schedules
? Cataloging Tools on CD-ROM & Web
? MARC 21 Documentation
? Cataloging Training Manuals
LC Bibliographic & Authority Record Databases
? Cataloging and Authority Records: over 13 million!

– Available from CDS as fee-based, MARC distribution services (bulk data files)

– Available for searching and individual MARC record downloading through LC online public access catalog at: http://catalog.loc.gov and http://authorities.loc.gov


Cataloging Tools on CD-ROM
Cataloger's Desktop
Cataloging Tools on CD-ROM	   Classification Plus
Web-Based Cataloging Tools 	   Classification Web
? January-August 2001: Pilot Test
? June 2002: Production Service
– Fee-based subscription access
– Integrated access to LC Classification & LC Subject Headings data
– Non-depository because of licensed software



MARC 21 Documentation
? International standard formats for MARC (machine-readable cataloging)
? MARC 21 is the harmonization of USMARC and CAN/MARC formats
? MARC 21 publications available in paper format (depository) and on Cataloger's Desktop


MARC 21 Documentation
? MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data
? MARC 21 Format for Authority Data
? MARC 21 Format for Classification Data
? MARC 21 Format for Holdings Data
? MARC 21 Format for Community Information
? MARC 21 Concise Formats
? MARC Code Lists:
– Languages...Countries...Geographic Areas...Organizations...Relators, Sources, Description Conventions...
? Plus MARC 21 Specifications for Record Structure, Character Sets, and Exchange Media


Cataloging Training Manuals


? Cataloging Concepts: Descriptive Cataloging (paper format; depository)
? MARC Content Designation (paper format; depository)
? SCCTP (Serials Cooperative Cataloging Training Program) manuals are fee-based PDF format.  Non-depository because cooperatively produced and funded.
Visit the
Cataloging Distribution Service (CDS)
www.loc.gov/cds

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