84037 - Cataloguing and Bibliographic Classification

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will know the theroretical principles of descriptive and sematic cataloguing, and is able to use and apply Italian cataloguing rules, the main standards of bibliographic description and the structure of the main subject indexing and classification systems.

Course contents

The course aims to provide a general overview of cataloguing theory, both descriptive and semantic. The first part of the course offers an introduction on the definition and history of cataloguing and the catalogue, followed by an analysis of cataloguing principles and models developed by IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions).

The second part of the course will be devoted to an analysis of the ISBD standard and of the Italian Cataloguing Rules (REICAT), with classroom exercises. The fundamental concepts of semantic indexing will be addressed and the main tools used to subject and classify resources will be presented.

Readings/Bibliography

In addition to the materials that will be made available on Virtual, the examination includes the study of the following texts:

Mauro Guerrini, Dalla catalogazione alla metadatazione. Tracce di un percorso. Roma: Associazione Italiana Biblioteche, 2020

Carlo Bianchini, Teoria e tecniche della catalogazione e delle classificazioni. Milano: Editrice Bibliografica, 2018.

 

Non-attendees will add to the above bibliography:

Mauro Guerrini, Lucia Sardo, IFLA library reference model. Un modello concettuale per le biblioteche del XXI secolo. Milano: Editrice Bibliografica, 2018

Lucia Sardo, La catalogazione. Storia, tendenze, problemi aperti. Milano: Editrice Bibliografica, 2017

All student who are affected by learning disability (DSA) and in need of special strategies to compensate it, are kindly requested to contact Prof. Sardo, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Teaching methods

Lectures with explanatory power points and cataloguing exercises. During the course, exercises will be carried out in order to promote learning of what the lecturer has presented. The cataloguing standards and regulations discussed in class will be made available on Virtual. In-depth materials and summaries of the topics discussed in the lecture will be provided, also on Virtuale.

Assessment methods

Oral exam, beginning with a subject choosen by the student.

It will be evaluated very positive the student's ability to demonstrate the acquired knowledge in a personal and critical way, using an appropriate language.

The final assessment will be based on the following indications:
- insufficient: lack of basic knowledge and inability to produce a correct interpretation of texts and/or problems

- sufficient: possession of basic knowledge; interpretation mostly correct, but conducted with imprecision and little autonomy

- good: possession of intermediate level knowledge; interpretation fully correct, but not always precise and autonomous

- excellent: possession of knowledge at a high level; interpretation of problems not only correct but conducted with autonomy and precision. Excellent oral expression skills

 

This course (6 CFU) is a component of the integrated course 'Information Theory and Cataloguing'. The final exam grade will therefore be determined by the average of the results obtained in each of the two parts. It is advisable (but not compulsory) to take the Information Theory and Documentation examination first.

Teaching tools

Illustrative and in-depth Power Point presentations.

The materials used during the lectures and further study materials will be available on Virtuale

Office hours

See the website of Lucia Sardo