Well, ETL 505 is well underway, and I have to admit that I've been a bit remiss in not commenting upon my learning before now. However, I think it would be as well to note a few thoughts before I begin the first assignment. Judging by the comments on the forums people have found this area of the course to be a challenging one. While the fact that I've been lagging behind has made it difficult to contribute much to these conversations, I have at least been able to benefit from them, especially with regard to some of the errors in the cataloguing exercises I just completed. Frankly, I was well capable of making plenty of my own mistakes without having any built in.
Laying that aside, my general impression of cataloguing thus far is a) favourable and b) horrified. Whilst I enjoy the challenge of this kind of methodical work with attention to detail, I think that I might need quite a bit more time before I could feel myself competent. I dread to think what damage I would do if let loose on a real catalogue.
Additionally, I may not be alone in thinking that I seem to have chosen perhaps the worst moment in history to begin studying library cataloguing. The very recent introduction of RDA, which seems likely to become the standard in the future (although the literature is adopting a let's wait and see stance. Thanks), and which is such a radical departure from the AACR2 practice, means that we really need to get a handle on both the old and the new. I think that it would have been useful to cut down the first few weeks of background information and get stuck into the practical cataloguing sooner if we are to achieve mastery of this subject.
Ah well, here is a short RDA entry for myself at this point.
2.3.2 Title Proper Brain dead mess
2.3.6 Variant Title ETL505 student
2.4.2 Statement of responsibility relating to title proper RDA cataloguing exercises
20.2 Contributor ETL505
18.5 Relationship designator puppeteer
