Examining the quality of National Library of Malaysia NLM cataloguing in publication CIP records

• Published in: Library review (Glasgow) Vol. 55; no. 6; pp. 363 - 373
• Main Authors: Abd Manaf, Zuraidah, Abdul Rahman, Ramlee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Emerald Group Publishing Limited 01.07.2006
• Subjects: Authority files; Cataloguing; Malaysia; Online catalogues; OPAC
• ISSN: 0024-2535
• DOI: 10.1108/00242530610674776

Purpose This study attempts to compare the National Library of Malaysia NLM's cataloguing in publication CIP records with their permanent records in the NLM's online public access catalogue OPAC database. Designmethodologyapproach The study compares the description of records in the NLM CIP versus NLM OPAC in terms of similarities and differences in the bibliographic elements for each record. The study selected the NLM's CIP records from January to April 2000, allowing more than 5 years for publishers to publish the registered CIP titles and also the NLM to make the records available in their OPAC database. Findings The findings indicate that libraries that use NLM's CIP records in their copy cataloguing activity should not rely 100 per cent on the records. Verifications and modifications need to be carried out to ensure accuracy and quality of their catalogue records. Research limitationsimplications That Malaysian experience confirms research carried out previously elsewhere. Practical implications The findings of the study are significant in terms of giving data about whether NLM's CIP records are trustworthy sources for the practical task of copy cataloguing or not. Originalityvalue Although comparison studies of the accuracy and consistency of CIP records versus OPAC records are commonplace, having been conducted extensively since the 1980s in a variety of contexts, such a comparison study of CIP records versus OPAC records has never been conducted in Malaysia. With the increased usage of webbased OPACs as one source option for copy cataloguing, it is imperative to ensure the records copied are consistent and accurate to avoid postalteration of the bibliographic description.