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Cataloging & Classification Quarterly

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The Impact of Productivity and Quality

of CJK Cataloging–A Brief Comparison
Between CJK 2nd Edition and 3rd Edition
a
Jiajian Hu BA and MLIS
a
Catalog Division, Chicago Public Library , Chicago , IL E-mail:
Published online: 24 Oct 2008.

To cite this article: Jiajian Hu BA and MLIS (2000) The Impact of Productivity and Quality of CJK
Cataloging–A Brief Comparison Between CJK 2nd Edition and 3rd Edition, Cataloging & Classification
Quarterly, 29:4, 87-90, DOI: 10.1300/J104v29n04_07

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J104v29n04_07

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 REPORT ON OPERATIONS

The Impact of Productivity and Quality

of CJK Cataloging–
A Brief Comparison Between CJK
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2nd Edition and 3rd Edition

Jiajian Hu

ABSTRACT. This report compares the features of the 2nd and 3rd
editions of OCLC’s CJK cataloging as implemented at the Chicago
Public Library. The 3rd edition is faster for cataloging than the 2nd
edition. Alternatively, the 2nd edition has other benefits including sta-
bility. Perspectives such as the quality of CJK cataloging between the
2nd and the 3rd edition are discussed also. [Article copies available for a fee
from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address:
<getinfo@haworthpressinc.com> Website: <http://www.HaworthPress.com>]

KEYWORDS. OCLC CJK, information delivery, cataloging of East

Asian publications–computer program, OCLC CJK software evalua-
tion, productivity of CJK cataloging, quality control of CJK cataloging

Jiajian Hu, BA, MLIS, is Cataloging Librarian II, Catalog Division, the Chicago
Public Library, Chicago, IL (E-mail: jhu@chipublib.org).
The author wishes to acknowledge Mrs. Sheryl Nichin-Keith and Mr. Richard
Stewart for reviewing and revising this article.
Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, Vol. 29(4) 2000
E 2000 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved. 87
 88 CATALOGING & CLASSIFICATION QUARTERLY

The Online Cataloging Library Center (OCLC) has released a new

generation, the 3rd edition of the OCLC CJK (Chinese, Japanese, and
Korean) software group. Comparing the 3rd edition and the 2nd edi-
tion, I found that the new features of the 3rd edition software, such as
batch searching, help increase productivity in cataloging CJK materi-
als in the Chicago Public Library.
The Chicago Public Library serves a growing multilingual popula-
tion which looks to the library to provide materials in languages other
than English. Chinese, Japanese, and Korean patrons are among those
using the library in rapidly increasing numbers. Ten branches and the
main library’s department hold nearly 100,000 titles of Chinese, Japa-
nese, and Korean books, serials and audio-visual materials. The
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collection is one of the largest CJK collections in the public libraries in

the country.
On April 16, 1987, an OCLC CJK workstation was installed at the
Chicago Public Library, making it the first public library in the United
States to have the new equipment. In January 1998, the Catalog Divi-
sion followed the trend and installed CJK 3rd edition software. Cata-
loging staff have received many benefits from using this new software
for cataloging and retrieving bibliographic records containing CJK
vernacular data.
The Catalog Division of the Chicago Public Library has 3 CJK
cataloging staff. They catalog books, serials, A-V materials ordered by
the branch libraries and departments. During 1998, CJK staff cata-
loged 3,206 titles in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. After using the
2nd and the 3rd editions of CJK software, I observed that the number
of records cataloged through CJK 3rd edition software within a given
period increased. From January through August of 1999 CJK catalog-
ing staff using CJK 3rd edition software cataloged 3,784 titles com-
prising monographs, serials, computer files and audio-visual materi-
als. That means the productivity of cataloging increased 100% over
the use of the 2nd CJK software in the same time. In the CJK 3rd
edition we can enter hundreds of searching keys for several online
files in one batch. The 3rd edition software can download up to 100
matching records per search during a 15 minutes coffee break. The
new features of this 3rd generation software help increase the speed of
cataloging. This new feature is especially beneficial to copy catalog-
ing in public libraries where the majority of work is copy cataloging. It
saves time and money. The new software combines interactive and
 Report on Operations 89

batch access with online and off-line processing. Users can do their
CJK cataloging with a smooth interface.
Catalogers using the 2nd CJK edition might have some headaches
in losing saved files for review because of its 14-day save expiration
term. In contrast, in the 3rd edition, the local file save function will
track the record by local record number. There is no 14-day save
expiration term in the local file save function. No longer having to
worry about losing the saved file is a considerable benefit. Also,
records in local files are searchable in various ways by coding status
(by local record number, title, name, date/time added to the file, etc.).
Another important feature of the 3rd generation software is its
enhanced function in Pinyin support. Users are given options to file
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search, view, print, edit, and/or export Chinese records in Pinyin or to

print local cataloging cards in Pinyin form in the 3rd edition, while
there are no such options in the 2nd edition. It shows that the new
version of CJK has made a further step in the transition from Wade-
Giles to Pinyin romanization in the near future.
Sometimes catalogers cannot find the CJK characters they want in
the 2nd edition. This problem is solved by the 3rd edition. There is an
electronic dictionary in the 3rd edition containing 10% more CJK
characters than in the old version. This feature enhances the quality of
CJK cataloging. The 3rd edition has an ALA character box. This
feature reduces frequent keystrokes and enables the cataloger to select
ALA characters quickly. It cuts down the time to input a new record or
edit a copy record.
Despite its benefits, there are some possible weaknesses in the CJK
3rd edition. Comparing CJK 3rd edition with the 2nd edition, I have
some concerns for the stability of the 3rd edition. When I try to verify
and save the original record I have created, the new software some-
times automatically logs out for no apparent reason, and the entire
screen disappears.
The help function in the 3rd edition is less comprehensive than that
in the 2nd edition. It fails to provide sufficient help to make the system
more convenient to use. The system lacks content specific help and
suggested vocabulary. The 2nd edition, also menu-driven, is much
more comprehensive and easier to use than the 3rd edition. One im-
portant factor might be that the 2nd edition provides explicit explana-
tions and different search examples. In order to increase capabilities of
the software, designers may need to add some context-specific help
 90 CATALOGING & CLASSIFICATION QUARTERLY

functions. Providing these functions and cross-references to suggest

better vocabulary in the 3rd edition would be very helpful to novice
users.
Authority work is a very important part in cataloging. Catalogers
always search authority files before establishing name, corporate and
subject heading. The 2nd edition provides a search box on the main
screen. I can search authority files in several ways, such as using
search keys or commands. It is very quick to find authority headings I
want. However, the new software has no authority search box on the
main screen. I can not search authority files by commands and can
only use search keys in OLUC. The new software limits the capability,
and it’s time consuming for the cataloger to review and pass on the
files.
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There is a DH (display holding) search box on the main screen in

the 2nd edition. It is very handy to retrieve the holding agencies of an
item for library users, especially for interlibrary loan staff. In the 3rd
edition, there is no DH search key on main screen. Users need to click
‘‘view’’ in the dialog box, and select the ‘‘holdings,’’ then click loca-
tion (state, region, all) to get the holding agencies. Therefore, it takes a
longer time for users to get the same amount of data by using the 3rd
edition.
I notice that it is hard to input more than three illustration values to
the fixed field in the 3rd edition, while it is very easy to input up to
four illustration values in the 2nd edition. This feature limits the capa-
bility and accuracy of information delivery in the CJK 3rd edition.
Since the 2nd edition has been used in libraries for many years, it is
more reliable and trusted. In contrast, the speed of information deliv-
ery in the 3rd edition is faster, its new features increase the capability
of retrieving and cataloging CJK materials, and its interface is more
user-friendly than that of the 2nd edition. An ideal revision, perhaps an
eventual 4th CJK edition, would combine the best features of both
OCLC’s 2nd and 3rd CJK editions.