Cataloguing practices at university libraries

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to analyse current practices and cooperation between the Turkish university libraries related to cataloguing processes and present cataloguing librarians’ evaluations about clarity and comprehensiveness of the given information in library catalogues. Design/methodology/approach In line with the literature review, a Web-based questionnaire was developed concerning the cataloguing practices implemented at university libraries in Turkey. The questionnaire was submitted to 316 cataloguing librarians. In all, 104 cataloguing librarians from 61 different libraries responded to the survey. The collected data were analysed through descriptive statistics. The responses given to some open-ended questions were assessed with respective expressions presented verbatim in the study and some of them visualised via VOSViewer software. Findings The findings reflect that analysed university libraries implement different cataloguing processes. It is seen that some libraries use the necessary systems and services related to cataloguing and classification while others use individual solutions without using such systems and services. Findings reveal that there is cooperation between the analysed libraries about sharing catalogue records. In this regard, it is understood that cataloguing librarians mostly prefer transferring catalogue records from the catalogues of university libraries they trusted. Findings also indicate that analysed librarians think that the descriptive information provided via Online Public Access Catalogues are in moderate level in terms of clarity and comprehensibility. Originality/value The study contributes to the existing literature of a limited number of relevant studies by establishing the baseline pertaining to cataloguing processes undertaken at university libraries in Turkey.