NACO training workshop coming February 2023

Participants in the Name Authority Cooperative Program (NACO) contribute MARC authority records for titles, agents such as persons and corporate bodies, and places to the LC/NACO Authority File. Members also assist the Library of Congress with the File’s maintenance by reporting duplicate records and performing other tasks. Within NACO, groups of libraries can pool their resources to achieve these same goals without the overhead of yearly quotas. These groups are called funnels; in fact, about a dozen libraries collaborate in one such funnel here in Minnesota.

The Library of Congress is looking to host an online NACO training workshop for invited guests in February 2023. Specific dates are not yet set. Minnesota NACO Funnel members are welcome to participate, as are libraries interested in joining the Funnel.

Training delivery differs from past workshops. First, Paul Frank (NACO/SACO Coordinator at LC’s Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division) will lead the forum with the assistance of LC colleagues.

Second, the traditional five-day workshop plan has been transformed into eight online modules. A module consists of two or more prerecorded videos alongside quizzes, exercises, and handouts—all based on the current 2017 version of RDA. Paul or one of his colleagues will wrap up each module with a live, hour-long webinar where they review the material, walk through real-world cataloging scenarios, and offer a space for questions.

Finally, LC’s hosting responsibility means there is no registration fee. But a time commitment cost is required; NACO training calls for focused attention. Please bear this in mind when planning for your attendance.

Minnesota Funnel members

Funnel members will find the February training a welcome refresher. Even with the revised RDA standard coming late 2023, a review of current authority work is worth pursuing. Its principles will remain the same despite the introduction of new elements and some changes in practice.

The workshop plays a role in succession planning too. Institutions looking to continue their relationship with NACO after retirements are encouraged to have senior cataloging staff invite their colleagues.

To prepare for the February training, Funnel members should follow these steps:

• Review your PCC Directory account. On the “Institution Profile” page, confirm the primary and secondary contact information under “Institution Content Details” is up to date. Details on profile management are found here.
• If you expect to attend the workshop, forward your name and e-mail address to me at ehle0001@stthomas.edu. Include contact information of colleagues who are already performing NACO work. Consider this an informal RSVP.
• If colleagues new to cataloging or authority work are interested in learning NACO practices, pass along their contact information to me at the address above. I will add them to the Funnel’s roster and private e-mail discussion list as we approach the workshop date.

Interested in joining the Funnel?

Requirements for NACO participation are:

• An RDA Toolkit subscription, which includes access to LC-PCC Policy Statements
• A subscription to OCLC (or SkyRiver) and the authorization to perform cataloging work in the utility
• Access to the following, which are freely available online:
  • MARC 21 Format for Authority Data
  • Descriptive Cataloging Manual (DCM) Z1
  • LC Guidelines Supplement to MARC 21 Format for Authority Data
• Optionally, access to the ALA-LC Romanization Tables if contributing access points in languages using non-roman scripts
• Completing NACO training

A Cataloger’s Desktop subscription is not required. That said, the platform does offer a convenient facility to jump from document to document without the hassle of opening multiple web pages and PDF files.

To join the Funnel, begin by forwarding the information below to ehle0001@stthomas.edu:

• The names and e-mail addresses of catalogers at your institution who expect to perform NACO work
• The name and e-mail address of a secondary contact, typically the cataloger’s supervisor or library’s director
• Your library’s OCLC symbol and MARC 21 organization code (formerly, NUC code). To find your organization code:
  1. Search for your library via the Directory of OCLC members page
  2. Click your library’s OCLC symbol in the results. This will bring you to a profile page.
  3. Follow the “Identifiers” link to reveal your MARC organization code

I will respond directly to interested parties with steps on submitting formal NACO applications and requests to update your OCLC cataloging authorizations.