Organizing Internet resources: teaching cataloging standards and beyond

Abstract

Recognizing changes in the information environment and related changes in cataloging standards, Catholic University of America’s LIS program adopted a strategy to offer students three levels of knowledge in organizing Internet resources. In the basic cataloging course, the instructor raises student awareness of Internet resources cataloging and metadata through demonstrations and discussions. In the advanced cataloging course, students apply cataloging standards and Dublin Core to Internet resources and selected types of material, and consider issues related to the implementation of metadata standards. In the advanced Internet resources organization course, students obtain hands‐on practice in creating electronic pathfinders and using metadata schemes such as Dublin Core, text encoding initiative (TEI), and encoded archival description (EAD). The instructor’s objectives are to broaden students’ understanding of the types of resources that need to be organized, give students knowledge and skills for the organization of digital resources, and prepare them to redefine cataloging in the twenty‐first century.