Cataloging and Classification Committee
Technical Services Special Interest Section
Task Group on Replacement Volumes Update
July 11, 2005
Members: Barbara Bohl, George Prager, Ann Sitkin, Regina Wallen, Kathy Winzer, Ellen McGrath (chair)
Here is a timeline of the Task Group on Replacement Volumes' work to date:
- The Task Group was formed in July 2003
- A summary of the issues and the Group's discussions was sent to Judy Kuhagen (Library of Congress, Cataloging Policy and Support Office) in December 2003
- Ms. Kuhagen responded to the Group with a list of questions on June 1, 2004
- The Group sent a response document to Ms. Kuhagen on January 11, 2005
- On February 15, 2005, Ms. Kuhagen responded to the Group with a draft statement intended to be posted on the CPSO public website for comment
- The Group sent its response to the draft statement to Ms. Kuhagen on March 16, 2005
- Ms. Kuhagen sent a document with CPSO's comments to the Group on May 27, 2005
- Group members Kathy Winzer and Ann Sitkin discussed the CPSO comments with Judy Kuhagen and Barbara Tillett (Chief, CPSO) during the ALA conference in Chicago in June 2005
The timeline shows how much work has been happening behind the scenes on this important replacement volumes issue. As we all know, replacement volumes are complex and it is essential that this be carefully conveyed to the Library of Congress.
During the past year, the Group's work coincided with the flurry of activity surrounding the drafting of AACR3, which has now turned into RDA (Resource Description and Access). This situation was unfortunate in that it slowed down the interchange between the Group and the Library of Congress. However it was extremely fortunate in that the goal shared by the Group and by LC has emerged as that of working the approach to replacement volumes into the cataloging rules themselves (RDA), as opposed to having it reside only in the LCRIs.
So the bad news is the work of the Group is not yet finished. But the good news is that LC is committed to working with law catalogers to incorporate replacement volumes directly into RDA. Much of the important groundwork has already been laid by the dialog between the Group and LC, although some further refinement does still need to be done.
The Group would like to especially thank Kathy Winzer and Ann Sitkin for their in-person advocacy for the needs of law catalogers.
Stay tuned for the next installment!