Barcoding Project

Beginning January 2002, Sirsi's electronic circulation function will be activated. Patron use of Special Collections materials will be electronically recorded. Thousands of items in the general Rare Books and Manuscripts collections have not been itemized; a cross-departmental retrospective effort is currently underway to barcode each item in these collections. The Team's participation is unclear.

Most separately shelved collections have been completed as of August 2001. Several thousand items remain to be barcoded.

Requested: Fall 1999
Started: Fall 1999
Estimated Completion: To be determined

Charles L. Blockson Collection of African-Americana and the African Diaspora

A collection of some 11,000 items, chiefly monographs, donated by collector and alum Charles Blockson. Each record will have:

793 0_ Charles L. Blockson Collection of African Americana and the African Diaspora.

The Home Location will be BLOCKSON, or, in some cases, BLOCKS-VLT (Blockson Vault.) No packets are prepared for this collection; the barcode is applied to the verso of a specially-stamped flyer, and the call number is written in best handwriting at the top of the flyer recto. No cards or labels are made for these items.

Core Records Project

Special Collections is making a concerted effort to have manuscript collections from HCLA and PSUA available. Since these are often large, boxed collections, they are preparing archival descriptions, and cataloging records are created in OCLC and Workflows from their descriptions; vertical files are generally examined for cataloging. Most records have been cataloged in the mixed materials format, but a number are in other formats, notable visual materials. Doris Malkmus has been the contact in Special Collections, while Susan Hamburger coordinates cataloging efforts.

There are a total of approximately 4000 collections in this project, however some of these collections have already been cataloged making it difficult to ascertain the number needing cataloging. Some existing records will need to be updated in the CAT and WorldCat.

Crystal Palace Ephemera Collection

Collection of a large number of ephemera compiled by Charles Mann. Most of the items highlight the Great Exhibition of 1851 (London).

The monographs in this collection were completed during a separate phase ending in the summer of 2001.

Eighth Air Force Collection (Serials Phase)

Awating description.

HCLA Labor Serials and Newspapers

Scope of the project was initially limited to assigning LC classification to HCLA's collection of union organs and labor serials, changing location codes in MARC holdings, and sending items for binding; but has since expanded to include providing original cataloging for unique materials in WorldCat, updating/improving extant records in WorldCat and our local Cat, adding PSU symbol to extant records in WorldCat, establishing Name Authority records for union locals, verifying & updating HCLA's holdings, managing bind prep, and coordinating project steps from cataloging through binding and return to HCLA. This project is supplying many materials for PSU's CONSER and NACO contributions.

Huntington Collection

Awaiting description. Estimated to contain 30 boxes of books. Subject matter is on Amish, Mennonite and Hutterite peoples.

Penn State Buildings Architectural Plans

A collection of building plans and drawings from the Physical plant. Most folders contain multiple sheets. Cataloged as Manuscripts in OCLC using the WFMG workform, these materials require considerable attention; please see local documentation or a sample record for full details. Briefly, apply fixed and coded fields as directed; describe the collection in 520; add pattern subject headings; determine 655s using AAT; and include 545 for building background. The call number should be:

PSUA
RGN 28
UP
[Building name as it appears on folder]
[date]
folder01 [02, etc., as needed]

Ronald A. Smith Sports History Book Collection

Some 3,000-4,000 books on general sports history donated by professor Emeritus Ronald A. Smith. Most are expected to be copy cataloging or added copies. The uncataloged books may be picked up from the Special Collections hallway. The Home Location will be SMITH. Each record will need the note:

793 0_ Ronald A. Smith Sports History Book Collection

United Mine Workers Material

Approximately 1,097 items; most seem to be Serials.