The technical-services function is crucial to all library services. Technical Services at Long Beach City College Library handles the ordering, purchasing, receiving, accounting, physical processing, interlibrary loan, and cataloging of all items for the Library. Books are repaired or prepared for shipment to the bindery by personnel in Technical Services. At Long Beach City College Library, Technical Services is comprised of cataloging/bibliographic access, interlibrary loan, and collection development/acquistions.

Cataloging is the part of Technical Services responsible for cataloging materials in all formats, including print, nonprint, online, and electronic. Cataloging is responsible for directly inputting all materials into the Library's online catalog, as well as downloading records from OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) into the Library's online database. An online catalog is a database of items owned by a library. "Cataloging" is the process of describing a particular item, so that it may be uniquely identified and located in any database, such as an online catalog or any printed counterpart—for example, the card catalog—by an author, title, subject, call number, and keyword search. Cataloging is considered the "backbone" of all library services, due to the nature and complexity of the functions involved.

Cataloging, in conjunction with circulation, periodicals, and reference services, provides the Library's community of users with accurate and detailed bibliographic and holdings records, as well as completing the physical preparation of materials in a timely manner.

The ultimate goal of cataloging is to enable library patrons to query the database and retrieve relevant information, predicated on the belief that a well-constructed catalog provides users with numerous access points. Through constant authority work and corrections, cataloging provides collocation of headings and numerous references and cross references to seamlessly guide library users to established name, subject, and serial headings. Authority work ensures that library users are able to find all entries for a particular person or subject under the same form in our online catalog.

In the emerging environment of resource-sharing over high-speed, digital networks, the critical role of standards cannot be overstated. Without a thorough understanding of and adherence to standards, a library's catalog would be a meaningless amalgamation of data. To ensure compliance with professional, world-wide standards, as well as the quality, effectiveness, and consistency of access provided, all full-level cataloging and authority work is performed by LAC technical-services staff, under the direction of the Bibliographic Access Librarian, and/or staff with specialized skills and expertise in this area.

Cataloging maintains the quality, accuracy and effectiveness of the online catalog through the following:

The electronic environment has contributed immensely to our ability to provide to the library users, accurate and timely access to information. All cataloging in Long Beach City College is done electronically via the Internet . We can access the Online Computer Library Center, OCLC, the world's largest database of bibliographic records containing over 30 million records contributed by more than 1,200 member libraries worldwide. We search this database for a record that matches the item we have in-hand. If one exists, we can either edit or enhance the record by adding additional Library of Congress subject headings, a different call number so that the item will interfile correctly with other materials on similar subject in our collection, or, we can accept the record and download the record from OCLC to our local online catalog without any changes.

All records downloaded from OCLC to our online catalog may be made instantly available in our online catalog. The location of the items remain "Technical Services" until librarians have reviewed the books and the printouts of the records. More subject headings may be added to a record in the online catalog to enhance access to the item. Library patrons may request any item in "Technical Services" to be rush processed for their use. Please see the librarian at the LAC or PCC Reference Desks for more information, or simply complete the LBCC book-rush processing form.

If no matching record exists in OCLC, we create or contribute an "original" record locally in our online catalog database or directly in the OCLC database, so that other libraries around the world can also use our records in their own online catalog.

The advent of technology has so dramatically transformed the nature of the work and tasks of librarians and library support staff. In the present environment of library systems—the importance of the Internet and the World Wide Web, emphasis on resource sharing, and focus on information access rather than ownership -- our duties demand no less than specialized skills.