Organizing audiovisual and electronic resources is an essential, and more importantly, user‐friendly guide and reference manual developed specifically for those involved in the cataloguing of sound or video recordings, Internet resources, computer files and other electronic and/or digital resources. The tone of the work is approachable and helpful, and renders the detailed and complex subject matter easily accessible to those on all levels of the cataloguing learning curve. As a whole the book is well organized, moving logically from a broader discussion of cataloguing principles and standards into very specific instructions on the handling of various electronic resources.
For those cataloguing in MARC regularly, much of the book's coverage of AACR2 and MARC formatting will seem fairly basic, however the guidance and numerous examples provided for electronic resources of every description are extremely valuable, especially for those attempting to catalogue web pages for the first time, or for those for whom the cataloguing of electronic resources happens only on rare occasions. Additionally, the uniform layout of each chapter makes it easy to reference the exact information required, without having to leaf through material which may already be familiar. Thus this it is ideally suited both as an introduction for new cataloguers and as a reference manual for those with more experience.
The first two chapters provide a broad introduction to the field of cataloguing and are aimed primarily at those untrained in this subtle art. The reader is first introduced to the general principles and theories behind cataloguing and secondly to the standard practices involved in the cataloguing of non‐print resources according to AACR2, and using MARC formats. As mentioned above, the writing style and layout are easy to follow and assist greatly in demystifying the often daunting world of modern cataloguing practices. Although these initial chapters primarily target those new to the discipline, they nevertheless contain a few hints and reminders useful even for seasoned cataloguers.
Chapters 3 and 4 cover the rules for cataloguing sound and video recordings, respectively, and are admirably comprehensive in their coverage. Chapter 3 opens with a reassuring assessment of the challenges presented by sound recordings followed by a detailed discussion of the MARC fields which apply specifically to audio formats, including the enigmatic fixed field elements and 007 tag, with all its subfields. Hsieh‐Yee then moves on to discuss chief sources of information, physical description, publication details, etc., followed by a very helpful discussion of some of the trickier formats in use today, including enhanced CD's, Read‐Along CD's and MP3 files. At the end of the chapter are several examples of full catalogue records for various types of sound recordings, each accompanied by a full discussion. The fourth chapter follows the same template in its discussion of video‐recordings, tackling the challenges presented by music videos, television episodes and series and streaming videos.
The next three chapters attempt to disentangle the labyrinthine world of electronic resources, and begin with a discussion of the rules governing the cataloguing of electronic resources generally. This is followed by chapters on integrating resources such as web pages, and remote access electronic serials, respectively. These chapters are especially valuable not only for the discussions of the appropriate MARC tags, indicators and subfields, but also for the advice given on how to assess each resource, and for answers to common questions such as, “when cataloguing a website, is it permissible to include publication details gleaned from linked sites?”, or “what words may safely be left out of a website's title (i.e. phrases such as “welcome to”, etc.)?”. Again, helpful and diverse examples are provided at the end of each chapter along with extensive discussions and bibliographical references.
The final chapter broadens out again into a discussion of the organization of information in the digital age, and in it Hsieh‐Yee discusses the changing nature of scholarly communication, the definition of metadata and its relationship to cataloguing. She then moves into a more specific discussion of the various metadata schemas, including Dublin Core and MODS, and from there into a discussion of the future of cataloguing, concluding that “catalogers have much to offer other professionals. The principles of cataloging are applicable to digital materials, and cataloging concepts such as collocation, access points, authority control, controlled vocabulary and subject analysis are highly relevant to the organization of digital materials” (p. 358).
Overall, this book presents a complicated and often baffling subject – the process of assessing and managing the flood of information represented by digital and online resources – in a friendly and accessible way which any librarian will find easy to use, refreshing, and above all, helpful.
