This book has been very useful for learning the skills of cataloging in a school library. I unfortunately rented this book. I wish I would have purchased it so that I can keep it in my collection as a reference tool. ( )

In this 3rd edition, Kaplan provides the basics of what teacher librarians need to know about cataloging the various materials owned by the school library learning commons. There are examples and exercises of this work that is designed as a basic text for cataloging classes. Kaplan recognizes the OPACs need to respond much more broadly to queries by students than just author, title, or major subject heading. Rather, the system should respond to a search for dog books at a certain reading level or other characteristics that are desired. This book is fine for the traditional cataloging class that presumes that “owned” resources is the central foundation of a library collection. However, the concept of collection development and cataloging or information retrieval now seems to be at the heart of what students are looking for when searching for information. They prefer Google. They want instant retrieval of just the information they need. They don’t want to have to go down the hall to plow through the Dewey Decimal System to retrieve what they want. Yes, the appreciate browsing still, however collection development now needs to include connection development and the idea that the library learning commons not only provides access to what is owned, but access to the best of what is out there across the globe. Otherwise, the school library catalog as currently conceved condems the library collection into oblivion and irrelevancy. What can teacher librarians do about the multiple places to search: the OPAC, the databases, the Internet, and the enormous availability of great resources such as the Library of Congress, museums and galleries across the world, newscasts, etc. Perhaps there should be a conference of library educators, theorists, students, and educators that concentrates on the idea of connection development and retrieval systems for children and young adults. Will we ever emerge from our traditional cataloging systems into the real 21st century information world?