Abstract
In January 2013, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents consolidated a health sciences university and a predominantly undergraduate liberal arts university. Each university had its own library, and the consolidation presented several challenges to the newly formed University Libraries. One major challenge was unifying the catalog as each library follows different classification standards. National Library of Medicine call numbers and Medical Subject Headings were utilized on the Health Sciences campus, and Library of Congress call numbers and subject headings were used on the liberal arts campus. After recognizing the differences in the catalog records, the Libraries asked “Where do we go from here?” A cataloging subcommittee was formed to identify ways to consolidate bibliographic records, streamline holdings, and turn chaos into community.
From Chaos to Community: Two Libraries Finding a Unified Direction
In January 2013, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents consolidated a health sciences university and a predominantly undergraduate liberal arts university. Each university had its own library, and the consolidation presented several challenges to the newly formed University Libraries. One major challenge was unifying the catalog as each library follows different classification standards. National Library of Medicine call numbers and Medical Subject Headings were utilized on the Health Sciences campus, and Library of Congress call numbers and subject headings were used on the liberal arts campus. After recognizing the differences in the catalog records, the Libraries asked “Where do we go from here?” A cataloging subcommittee was formed to identify ways to consolidate bibliographic records, streamline holdings, and turn chaos into community.