E-Resource Cataloging Practices: A Survey of Academic Libraries and Consortia

Abstract This article discusses current practices for the cataloging and display of electronic resources in academic/research libraries and consortia. Data were collected via survey by the Cataloging Electronic Resources/Electronic Resource Display in OPAC (CatER) Task Force of the Illinois Library Computer Systems Organization (ILCSO) Users' Advisory Group during the spring and summer of 2003. Survey questions covered a variety of areas, including: methods of access, percentages of total e-resources cataloged, policies and guidelines, adherence to national standards, the single-record versus multiple-record approach, the use of vendor records, the placement, tracking, and verification of URLs and their components, persistent problems, future plans to enhance bibliographic control, and the cataloging and display of electronic resources.