Barcode-Level Cataloging Certification

The Illinois Statewide Cataloging Standards Committee (SCSC) was formed in 2000 and was charged with the responsibility of creating a cataloging standards document that would form the basis of improving the quality of cataloging in the consortial catalogs in Illinois. In support of these standards the SCSC has created a barcoder certification test, which will help to identify the training needs of barcoders.

It is PrairieCat policy that all library staff that ADD items to the PrairieCat database must be barcode certified. Staff must pass a barcoder certification test demonstrating that they can select the correct matching bibliographic record in PrairieCat and attach their library's item to maintain the accuracy of the database. The tests are offered monthly at the Coal Valley, Rockford and Shorewood Service Centers. An individual has three chances to pass the test, and after a third failure a one-on-one "barcode school" is offered by PrairieCat contract staff.

New staff should prepare for the test by reviewing the practice test provided below. In addition, new staff will be provided a temporary login for Sierra and should take several months to practice using add item functionality on PrairieCat. After successfully passing the barcode certification test, an individual's named login is made permanent. If an individual moves to another PrairieCat library, they do not need to re-take the test; barcode certification follows the individual to their new position. Every effort will be made to grade barcode certification tests and return results within two weeks of the test. Upon successful completion of the Test, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion

The Barcoder Certification Test has two parts, both of which must be passed at the same sitting of the Test. The first part is made up of matching, multiple choice and short answer questions on general terminology, basic MARC and searching. Passing the first part requires getting 14 of the 28 possible points. The second part is made of eight hands-on exercises where the barcoder is asked to follow PrairieCat cataloging policies and procedures in searching, matching and attaching a call number and copy/item record to the proper record, if applicable and reporting any problems with bibliographic records, or referring items to a copy or original cataloger. This portion of the Evaluation requires getting 50 of the 72 possible points.

Additional resources to use in preparing:

• Acryonyms and terms (pdf) - Cataloging Acronyms & Terminology

• WebJunction IL Course - Introduction to Cataloging for Non-Catalogers Basic MARC (Machine Readable Cataloging)

• Understanding MARC Bibliographic Machine Readable Cataloging)

• Illinois Statewide Cataloging Standrds

The deadline for all PrairieCat library staff who add items and are not currently certified to be barcode certified on Sierra is June 30, 2013.

Supporting documents for the cataloging standards test on barcoding are attached below.

For more information about barcode testing, contact John Slanicky (john [dot] slanicky [at] railslibraries [dot] info), Sandy Tedder (sandy [dot] tedder [at] railslibraries [dot] info), or Mary Louise Brown (marylouise [dot] brown [at] railslibraries [dot] info).