Language of Cataloging

Background

'Language of Cataloging' must be in English.  'Language of Cataloging' refers to the language of the descriptive cataloging, not the language of the resource.  It is the language used by the cataloging agency.

Policy Statement

CSU libraries are required to use English as the 'Language of Cataloging' in MARC records.  CSU libraries should not use OCLC records with a 'Language of Cataloging' other than English for acquisitions or cataloging.

Procedures in Alma

'Language of Cataloging' is coded in field 040, subfield |b.

040 _ _ |a DLC |b eng |c DLC

If subfield |b is not present, the language of cataloging is assumed to be English.

When copy cataloging, if the only matching records are cataloged in a language other than English, create a parallel record in OCLC using English as the language of cataloging following the guidelines in OCLC Bibliographic Formats and Standards 3.10, Parallel Records for Language of Cataloging, and then export that record into the NZ.

Cleanup of existing non-English cataloging is recommended (as resources permit).  To find such records with holdings attached in WorldCat, turn off the 'Language of Cataloging Limiter' in the Search WorldCat dialog box, then search by 'li: [institution's OCLC code]' not 'll:eng'.

Exceptions to this policy may be made in the case of large record sets provided by vendors (including resources activated in a Knowledge Base like the Community Zone), but CSU libraries must make a commitment to using the available records that most closely adhere to this policy in such cases. 

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