Re: Not a joke -- we really SHOULD index binding color/spine color

On Tue, 9 Feb 2010, Williams, Ann wrote:

> People would think we're cataloging on steroids

  We are, aren't we (considering RDa ...)  :)

  Whom would really care, except people trying to find books?  It's a 
difference between abstractly fearing criticism and objectively 
providing helpful data.

> and patrons really do value the look of a book.

  Especially if it helps them find it.

> Does anyone except librarians care about height?

  Does anyone shelving or designing shelving care about any sizes except 
that which draws the line at the upper limit?

> I suppose it helps catalogers to identify whether another printing
> should be on the same record

  Considering that catalogers would rather not have to distinguish between 
hardbacks and paperbacks, I can see why they would also rebel aginst any 
other *confusing* information.

> ... but does a few inches matter to patrons except in rare cases...?

  Even worse: centimenters, not inches!

> Shouldn't weight also matter? I bet more patrons come in looking =
> for a book by color or thickness than height.

  No doubt (except for "oversize") "size does count", er, in this respect. 
But we already cite thickness by carefully counting pages, so no worries 
there.

> And frankly, the time cataloging experts have spent on GMD and SMD with =
> so little benefit for patrons...

  And RDA ...

Cheers!

jgm

                                             John G. Marr
                                             Cataloger
                                             CDS, UL
                                             Univ. of New Mexico
                                             Albuquerque, NM 87131
                                             jmarr@...
                                             jmarr@...

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