Michele Lockleair

LIS 640-02D Information Organization and Access, Project C

Dr. Nora Bird
4 December 2015
Cataloging American Girl Doll Collection
My proposal is to catalog American Girl Dolls with books and accessories. I have found
other libraries that have started this very program. I felt that having the dolls and their stories
would encourage children to learn more about history. The doll kit would include a diary for the
child to record stories about their interaction with the doll while it is checked out which
promotes literacy.
Three libraries that I have reviewed which have this program available are the Jefferson
Hills Public Library, part of the Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA) in Pennsylvania,
Harford County Public Library (HCPL) in Maryland, and Arlington Public Library (APL) in Virginia.
All three libraries have set up kits that include a doll and book. APL and HCPL include an
assortment of various accessories, carrying case, and a journal to record stories and
adventures. The ACLA has gone one step further and created additional themed clothing kits
such as camping, winter, and back to school sets to check out with the doll. All three libraries
have cataloged these sets under the format name Kit and use the call number KIT or DOLL KIT.
All the libraries use the series of American Girl and the subjects Doll and Character Dolls. Even
though all three libraries use a similar classification system, Harford County has very detailed
descriptions and MARC records, which I have decided to follow as an example of how to catalog
my items.
Jefferson Hills includes the corporate author, title, publisher, and description in their
record for the kits that include the doll and the book (Fig. 1). There is also a separate note field.

The record for the clothing and accessory kits includes the fields of title, publisher (which they
name as themselves), and description, as well as the additional note field (Fig. 2).
Figure 1- Figure 1 Jefferson Hills Public Library American Girl Doll Kit Record for Doll and book.

Figure 2- Figure 1 Jefferson Hills Public Library American Girl Doll Kit Record for accessories.

Harford Public Library includes the format, title, publisher, date, description, summary
of the book, target audience, series, subject, and notes in their record. Some of the records
included fields for other author and other title (Fig. 3). This is the example I chose to most
closely follow for creating my records. The Harford library does not have any separate
accessory kits, but they include quite a few accessories in the kit including a mattress, blanket,
and pillow.
Figure 3- Harford Public Library American Girl Doll Kit

The Arlington Public Librarys record was similar to Harford, just not as detailed (Fig. 4).
Figure 4- Arlington Public Library American Girl Doll Kit

I used WorldCat to get the information for the book part of my record. I chose some of
the subjects listed in the WorldCat record for the particular book as well as the author,
publisher, date, series, and book summary. I searched Library of Congress Linked Data Service
to find out how dolls were described and if there was a record for American Girl Dolls, which I
could not find any information. I also searched the Library of Congress Authorities for American
Girl and found an authorized heading for American Girl (firm); a search for dolls turned up Dolls
as an authorized heading with many narrower terms including baby dolls, hard plastic dolls, and
character dolls. I used dolls and character dolls as two of my subjects on all of my doll kit
records. I used the American Girl website (AmericanGirl.com) to get descriptions for the

accessories kits. I did not include an ISBN field on my record because there are several different
printings that all have different ISBNs and since the record pertains to a collection of items and
not just one book, I chose not to include them.

American Girl Doll Kits Catalog

Format:

Kit

Title:

Addy: An American Girl Doll Kit

Book Author:

Connie Porter

Description:

Series:

1 clothed doll, accessories, book and

journal ; in carrying case.
Addy Walker's family is planning a
dangerous escape from slavery
during the summer of 1864. But
before they can leave, the most
terrible thing Addy can imagine
happens--her Poppa and her brother,
Sam, are sold! Addy and her Momma
decide they must head out on their
own. Although the road to freedom is
difficult, Addy's new life brings new
friends, school, and even the
opportunity to help others. But when
will her family be reunited?
American Girl: Beforever

Publisher, Date:

Middleton, WI : American Girl, 2014.

Subjects:

Dolls; Character Dolls; Slaves

Juvenile Fiction
KIT AMER GIRL ADDY

Book Summary:

Call Number:

Format:

Kit

Title:

Bedroom Accessories Kit

Description:

1 Ida Bean rag doll, 1 lantern, 1

Mother Goose in Hieroglyphics book

Series:

American Girl

Subjects:

Dolls; Character Dolls;

Call Number:

KIT AMER GIRL BEDTIME

Format:

Kit

Title:

Caroline Abbott: An American Girl

Doll Kit
Kathleen Ernst

Book Author:
Description:

Series:

1 clothed doll, accessories, book and

journal ; in carrying case.
Caroline Abbott and her mother
make a dangerous journey across
Lake Ontario to the British fort where
Papa is being held prisoner, and
when Mama is unable to see him, it is
up to Caroline to pass Papa a secret
message right under the nose of a
British guard.
American Girl: Beforever

Publisher, Date:

Middleton, WI : American Girl, 2014.

Subjects:
Call Number:

Dolls; Character Dolls; New York

(State) HistoryJuvenile Fiction
KIT AMER GIRL CAROLINE

Format:

Kit

Title:

Grace: An American Girl Doll Kit

Book Author:

Mary Casanova; Sarah Davis

Description:

Series:

1 clothed doll, accessories, book and

journal ; in carrying case.
Nine-year-old Grace likes having a
plan but she must find a way to be
flexible and open to new ideas when
she goes to Paris with her mother
and has trouble getting along with
her cousin, while at home her friends
start the business she proposed
without her.
American Girl

Publisher, Date:

Middleton, WI : American Girl, [2015]

Subjects:

Dolls; Character Dolls;Paris (France)

Juvenile Fiction
KIT AMER GIRL GRACE

Book Summary:

Book Summary:

Call Number:

Format:

Kit

Title:

Josefina Montoya: An American Girl

Doll Kit
Valerie Tripp

Book Author:
Description:

Series:

1 clothed doll, accessories, book and

journal ; in carrying case.
Josefina and her sisters are excited
when energetic young Aunt Dolores
arrives at the rancho, bringing new
ideas, new fashions, and new
challenges, but they worry the
changes will make them forget
Mama, especially as Christmas
approaches.
American Girl: Beforever

Publisher, Date:

Middleton, WI : American Girl, 2014.

Subjects:
Call Number:

Dolls; Character Dolls; Mexican

American -- Fiction
KIT AMER GIRL JOSEFINA

Format:

Kit

Title:

American Girl Holiday Outfit

Description:

1 striped dress, 1 pantalette, 2 white

stockings, 1 pr. black slippers, 1 lace
mantilla

Series:

American Girl

Subjects:

Dolls; Character Dolls

Call Number:

KIT AMER GIRL HOLIDAY OUTFIT

Book Summary:

Format:

Kit

Title:

Julie Albright: An American Girl Doll

Kit
Megan McDonaldt

Book Author:
Description:

Series:

1 clothed doll, accessories, book and

journal ; in carrying case.
It's 1974, and Julie Albright has just
moved to a new neighborhood and
started at a new school. So when she
finds out the basketball team is 'boys
only,' Julie is determined to fight for
her right to play. Will a petition with
150 names be enough to make the
coach change his mind and give her a
chance?
American Girl: Beforever

Publisher, Date:

Middleton, WI : American Girl, 2014.

Subjects:

Call Number:

Dolls; Character Dolls; San Francisco

(Calif.) -- History -- 20th century -Juvenile Fiction; DivorceJuvenile
Fiction; Womens Rights Juvenile
Fiction
KIT AMER GIRL JULIE

Format:

Kit

Title:

Mix Print Maxi Dress

Description:

1 clothed doll, accessories, book and

journal ; in carrying case.

Series:

American Girl

Subjects:

Dolls; Character Dolls

Call Number:

KIT AMER GIRL MAXI DRESS

Book Summary:

Format:

Kit

Title:

Pet Bunny

Description:

1 stuffed bunny, 1 rattan basket with

embroidered pillow, 1 bunch of play
carrots

Series:

American Girl

Subjects:

Dolls; Character Dolls, Bunny, Pets

Call Number:

KIT AMER GIRL PET BUNNY

Format:

Kit

Title:

Kaya: An American Girl Doll Kit

Book Author:

Janet Shaw

Description:

Series:

1 clothed doll, accessories, book and

journal ; in carrying case.
Kaya's Nez Perce people are known
for their skill with horses, and Kaya
hopes to become the best
horsewoman in the village. But after
accepting a foolish challenge that
puts her brothers in danger, Kaya
earns a punishment and an insulting
nickname. Kaya is inspired by a brave
young woman in her village, and is
determined to make better choices.
Will Kaya prove that she can change-and lose that horrible nickname?
American Girl: Beforever

Publisher, Date:

Middleton, WI : American Girl, 2014.

Subjects:

Dolls; Character Dolls; Indians of

North America Juvenile Fiction
KIT AMER GIRL KAYA

Book Summary:

Call Number: