I started my practicum at the Illinois Fire Service Institute Library today. Started out sort of slow, as it should be. Was shown a little about how their cataloging software InMagic works, and bit of other general stuff. Then I got let loose on a tub of uncataloged materials. First, I looked up all the serials, and we held titles for them all, so I only had to add the issues to the catalog and then file them away in the proper locations in the reference library.
Then I had to look everything up in our catalog to see if we already held it, which we did for a few. Those I set to the side. Those we didn’t hold I looked up in WorldCat. Found most of them and copied down the OCLC Accession # for each one. Then I went into OCLC Connexion, searched the items, exported the records in MARC format, and updated the OCLC records with our holdings.
Since our catalog isn’t MARC we had to use some translation software to change and then import the records into our catalog. I only had time to update one record today (copy cataloging), but I have 20 more waiting on me for tomorrow. And I have 4 items I’ll get to do original cataloging on. Woohoo! This is, of course, only the 1st box of many. Not all of my original records will get uploaded to OCLC, but many definitely will—after Elizabeth (my supervisor) checks them.
This is the item I imported and updated today: Recommended good practice requirements of the National Board of Fire Underwriters for the construction and protection of garages / National Board of Fire Underwriters. 1932 (NBFU pamphlet ; no. 88). I had to assign subject headings from our thesaurus and a call no. among other minor things.
We’ll just have to see what and how much I can learn (and get done) in 1oo hours.
Shakespeare
I also finally got around to ordering my tickets for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival this year. I’ll be going with my buddy Jenna to all 3 plays again this year. This is our 3rd year going to all of them, while I attended one or two each year for 3 or so years before that. This year’s plays are Twelfth Night, MacBeth, and Henry VIII. Got to get me some culture somehow, and this is a relatively painless, and usually very enjoyable way to do so. Here’s hoping we have good luck with the weather again this year.
To run or not to run….
Part of me is trying to tell me I should go running this evening, but then I walked a bit today. My walk to work is about 28 min. in the morning. Then another 30 min. to my practicum at noon. Then the 3.2 miles home took me 46 min. this evening. I think I’ll count that as my exercise for the day. No use overdoing it before I get started! I think I’m going to need to pick up a decent, inexpensive bike though. It is going to get rough when the heat and humidity kick it up another few notches.