Acquistions and Current Processing
In Acquisitions, we order materials for the MSU Libraries collections. All monograph and serials orders and serials receipts are handled in this unit. Acquisitions is also responsible for monitoring the materials budget and handling the accounting responsibilities associated with it.
Current Processing, a subset of Acquisitions, handles monograph receipts and returns, most approval plan processing (including PromptCat plans), and copy cataloging of print monographs and serials.
DataCat
Database Management and Cataloging's (DataCat) mission is to provide availability and access to the Libraries information resources. DataCat is a partner with the other teams in Technical Services to uphold the mission of the Technical Services Department and the Libraries. DataCat accomplishes it mission by performing multi-faceted activities relating to the management of the Libraries on-line catalog and by physical processing of material. The mission of the team is to provide access to resources to serve the education needs of the students, faculty, and staff of M.S.U., the citizens of Michigan, and the Universities national and international clientele.
Cataloging and Metadata Services
The Cataloging and Metadata Services Team (previously called the Bibliographic Enhancement Team) provides bibliographic access to materials in all formats and in various languages for which we have the expertise, when no bibliographic copy exists in OCLC or when existing copy lacks an LC classification number and LC subject headings. Currently we can catalog material in English, French, Spanish, German, Ojibway, Chinese, and various African languages. The team also enhances local catalog records and OCLC master records. When working on an incomplete OCLC master record, we add missing elements as OCLC guidelines permit -- for example, LC classification numbers and LC subject headings when none exist in the record. Historically in library science these functions have been called original cataloging. Now we are part of the information management world, creating or enhancing bibliographic access to the world of information in any form that the information is delivered. The Cataloging and Metadata Services Team has a national commitment to improving access by contributing both name and series authority records to the LC NACO (Name-Authority Cooperative) file. Our contributions become part of the national Library of Congress name authority database. The team also has the responsibility of ensuring that the MSU Libraries remain aware of national cataloging standards. Maintaining standards nationally is critical to the resource sharing of catalog records. Librarians on the team work with libraries and professional library organizations nationwide to help formulate national standards. Librarians also provide local leadership to assist the MSU Libraries in having its catalog adhere to the national cataloging standards.