News | Illinois Heartland Library System

CMC Catalogs Historical Ephemera

postcard: Dixon Public Library Postcard: Dixon Theater

At times, the Cataloging Maintenance Center (CMC) has the privilege not only of cataloging challenging items, but also items that are, weirdly, a lot of fun to work with (if you are a cataloger).

The CMC was sent some postcards depicting the Dixon Public Library prior to its rehabilitation, and one of the historic Dixon Theatre from the 1920s. Postcards do not usually yield a lot of information, especially dates, for the cataloger. However, by doing some research you can find the approximate date of the postcard. This can be done based on what the item’s image depicts – vehicles, buildings, the clothing people are wearing – these are just some examples of what can give an estimated (or “circa”) date of the postcard. We bet some of you didn’t realize how much work can go into the process!

The CMC was also sent an envelope from 1958 for the 100^th anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates. Luckily, the envelope was postmarked, had a Lincoln-Douglas debate anniversary stamp, a rubber stamp for the TB (Tuberculosis) Association, and it was addressed to a resident of Oregon, Illinois. This plethora of information was very valuable in the cataloging process and helped to create a full catalog record.

If you have “interesting” items at your institution that you would like to have cataloged, be sure to contact the CMC!

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The Cataloging Maintenance Center is helping Illinois libraries catalog special collections to make them available to the public. If you have a special collection that needs to be cataloged, the CMC may be able to help. Contact them at 618.656.3216 x503 or visit the CMC webpage.

Funding for the Cataloging Maintenance Center is provided through the Illinois State Library and the Secretary of State and administered by Illinois Heartland Library System. The CMC provides statewide cataloging support for Illinois libraries, including free original and copy cataloging of eligible special collections, consultation on metadata projects, database cleanup for LLSAPs, cataloging training, and more. Learn more at www.illinoisheartland.org/cmc.

posted: January 28, 2020 - 4:46pm

CMC Catalogs a Record Book from 1861

West Sangamon Public Library District received a record book for the formation and organization of the town of Loami, Sangamon County, Ill., population 745 (2010 U. S. Census).

The record book is 46 x 31 centimeters and is bound in leather which is greatly deteriorating. It has 466 pages and includes auditors’ reports, minutes, election results, receipts, and disbursements.

The first entry is April 2, 1861, and the last entry is April 30, 1918, which states at the end of the entry “The board agreed to let the Town Clerk buy a new record book to keep a report of the Town records as this one has been filled. There being no further business, meeting adjourned.” All of the postings in the record book are handwritten.

This book, along with several other books and ledgers, was sent to the Cataloging Maintenance Center (CMC) for cataloging from West Sangamon Public Library District at the suggestion of Mary Ann Pohl, who stated that they were truly “one-of-a-kind" items.

leather cover of records book records book inside cover 1st page of records book

Photo 1: Leather cover of the record book

Photo 2: Inside cover of the record book

Photo 3: First page of the record book showing the election of officers of the Village

posted: January 10, 2020 - 4:06pm

CMC Catalogs Braille Books

Mattoon Public Library received between 400 and 450 donated braille books from Eastern Illinois Area of Special Education, ranging from children to adult level. Most of the books are in braille only; however, the books have titles in standard text on the front cover (either typed or handwritten). Mattoon Public Library Director, Carl Walworth, asked the Cataloging Maintenance Center (CMC) to catalog these books for their collection.

Declaration of Independence

One of the more interesting books is a braille printing of the Declaration of Independence (picture, left), which has a cool tactile element of the Liberty Bell (below left), the first United States flag (1777), and the 1959 United States flag (below right), inside the front cover. This is one of the few braille books that has both English and braille "text".

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One of the services of the Cataloging Maintenance Center is helping Illinois libraries catalog special collections to make them available to the public. If you have a special collection that needs to be cataloged, the CMC may be able to help. Contact them at 618.656.3216 x503 or visit the CMC webpage.

posted: December 9, 2019 - 5:49pm

The CMC Is Here for Your Library!

From left to right: Ian Anderson, Cheri Schuler-Faust, Pamela Thomas, Erin Rose, Vince Andrzejewski

The Cataloging Maintenance Center (CMC) catalogs local authors, local history, genealogy, and foreign language materials. "Special collections" can include many different things such as Superman items, Abraham Lincoln materials, local government documents, or microfilm. We see many yearbooks, cookbooks, and family histories. Some libraries are afraid of sending items in for cataloging, because they could be damaged. Extra care is taken for these items. CMC catalogers can do on-site cataloging. CMC staff create 200 name-authority records each year. If your library has a digitized collection, but needs help deciding what to do with it, CMC staff can discuss how to make the collection accessible. If you have AACR2 or RDA questions, then just ask the CMC.

The CMC also provides several different ways of training:

In-person
Online (Moodle)
Online with the CMC, where they present on a topic for twenty minutes each month (August-January) with a question and answer period afterwards. These sessions are presented live, but recorded, and can be listened to at your convenience..

In FY19 (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019), the CMC cataloged 15 kits, 10 computer files, 1,679 books, 25 atlases, 27 sound recordings, 20 videos, and 54 serials, for a total of 1,830. The CMC staff enhanced 661 bibliographic records and created 1,193 original records, for a total of 1,854 bibliographic records.

Check out the Fast Facts FY19 infographic (PDF).

If the CMC can help your library, contact them at 618.656.3216 x503 or visit their webpage.

Funding for the Cataloging Maintenance Center is provided through the Illinois State Library and the Secretary of State and administered by Illinois Heartland Library System. The CMC provides statewide cataloging support for Illinois libraries including free original and copy cataloging of eligible special collections, consultation on metadata projects, database cleanup for LLSAPs, cataloging training, and more. Learn more at www.illinoisheartland.org/cmc.

posted: November 22, 2019 - 11:03am