Emerging Issues in Academic Library Cataloging & Technical Services

Primary Research Group, April 2007

This report presents nine highly detailed case studies of leading university cataloging and technical service departments. It provides insights into how they are handling ten major changes facing them, including: the encouragement of cataloging productivity; impact of new technologies and enhancement of online catalogs; transition to metadata standards; cataloging of websites and digital and other special collections; library catalog and metadata training; database maintenance, holdings, and physical processing; relationship with acquisitions; staff education; and other important issues.

Survey participants represent academic libraries of varying sizes and classifications, with many different viewpoints. Universities surveyed are: Brigham Young; Curry College; Haverford College; Illinois, Louisiana and Pennsylvania State Universities; University of North Dakota; University of Washington; and Yale.

About the Author
Introduction

Summary of Key Findings

Description of University, Library, and Staffing

Cataloging Productivity

New Technologies, Enhancement of Online Catalogs

Transition to Metadata Standards

Cataloging of Web Sites and Digital, Special Collections

Library Catalog/Metadata Training and Presentation

Database Maintenance, Holdings, and Physical Processing

Relationship with Acquisitions Departments

Staff Education

Other Issues Facing Library Cataloging Staff

Curry College

II. Productivity

III. New Technologies, Enhancement of Online Catalogs

V. Cataloging of Web Sites and Digital, Special Collections

VI. Library Catalog/Metadata Training and Presentations

VII. Database Maintenance, Holdings, and Physical Processing

VIII. Relationship with Acquisitions Departments

IX. Staff Education

X. Other Issues Facing Library Cataloging Staff

University of North Dakota

II. Productivity

III. New Technologies, Enhancement of Online Catalogs

V. Cataloging of Web Sites and Digital, Special Collections

VI. Library Catalog/Metadata Training and Presentation

VII. Database Maintenance, Holdings, and Physical Processing

VIII. Relationship with Acquisitions Departments

IX. Staff Education

X. Other Issues Facing Library Cataloging Staff

Haverford College

I. Description of Haverford College and Library, Staffing

II. Productivity

III. New Technologies, Enhancement of Online Catalogs

IV. Transition to Metadata Standards

V. Cataloging of Web Sites and Digital, Special Collections

VI. Library Catalog/Metadata Training and Presentation

VII. Database Maintenance, Holdings, and Physical Processing

VIII. Relationship with Acquisitions Departments

IX. Staff Education

X. Other Issues Facing Library Cataloging Staff

University of Washington

I. Description of University of Washington and Library, Staffing

II. Productivity

III. New Technologies, Enhancement of Online Catalogs

V. Cataloging of Web Sites and Digital, Special Collections

VI. Library Catalog/Metadata Training and Presentation

VII. Database Maintenance, Holdings, and Physical Processing

VIII. Relationship with Acquisitions Departments

IX. Staff Education

X. Other Issues Facing Library Cataloging Staff

Yale University

I. Description of Yale University and Library, Staffing

II. Productivity

III. New Technologies, Enhancement of Online Catalogs

IV. Transition to Metadata Standards

V. Cataloging of Web Sites and Digital, Special Collections

VI. Library Catalog/Metadata Training and Presentation

VII. Database Maintenance, Holdings, and Physical Processing

VIII. Relationship with Acquisitions Departments

IX. Staff Education

X. Other Issues Facing Library Cataloging Staff

Brigham Young University

II. Productivity

III. New Technologies, Enhancement of Online Catalogs

IV. Transition to Metadata Standards

V. Cataloging of Web Sites and Digital, Special Collections

VI. Library Catalog/Metadata Training and Presentation

VII. Database Maintenance, Holdings, and Physical Processing

VIII. Relationship with Acquisitions Departments

IX. Staff Education

X. Other Issues Facing Library Cataloging Staff

Illinois State University

I. Description of Illinois State University and Library, Staffing

II. Productivity

III. New Technologies, Enhancement of Online Catalogs

IV. Transition to Metadata Standards

V. Cataloging of Web Sites and Digital, Special Collections

VI. Library Catalog/Metadata Training and Presentation

VII. Database Maintenance, Holdings, and Physical Processing

VIII. Relationship with Acquisitions Departments

IX. Staff Education

X. Other Issues Facing Library Cataloging Staff

Louisiana State University

I. Description of Louisiana State University and Library, Staffing

II. Productivity

III. New Technologies, Enhancement of Online Catalogs

IV. Transition to Metadata Standards

V. Cataloging of Web Sites and Digital, Special Collections

VI. Metadata Training and Presentation

VII. Database Maintenance, Holdings, and Physical Processing

VIII. Relationship with Acquisitions Departments

IX. Staff Education

X. Other Issues Facing Library Cataloging Staff

Pennsylvania State University

I. Description of Pennsylvania State University and Library, Staffing

II. Productivity

III. New Technologies, Enhancement of Online Catalogs

IV. Transition to Metadata Standards

V. Cataloging of Web Sites and Digital, Special Collections

VI. Library Catalog/Metadata Training and Presentation

VII. Database Maintenance, Holdings, and Physical Processing

VIII. Relationship with Acquisitions Departments

IX. Staff Education

X. Other Issues Facing Library Cataloging Staff

Organization Charts for Washington State University, Louisiana State University, and
Pennsylvania State University

Glossary of Acronyms

Elaine Sanchez has been a professional cataloger for 22 years, cataloging serials and monographs in all subjects and languages, performing authority control, working with OCLC and integrated library systems, and utilizing MARC, AACR2, LCRI, LC classification, and LCSH cataloguing standards. She has over 18 years of supervisory experience in cataloging, including 12 years as Head Cataloger. MLS, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 1976; BA in German, UT Austin, 1975.

Elaine received Texas State University-San Marcos Librarian of the Year Award, 2004, and a 2004 resolution of commendation from Texas Library Association’s cataloging/ALCTS regional group, the Texas Regional Group of Catalogers and Classifiers (TRGCC), for her service to Texas catalogers. Elaine has been a member of ALA and TLA, and from 1996-2004 held the offices of secretary, vice-chair, and chair of TLA’s College and University Libraries Division (CULD) and of TRGCC.

Elaine is author of several publications, including: “Petition to Stop the Library of Congress Decision to Cease Creating Authority Records as Part of Library of Congress Catalog,” April 24, 2006; “Cleanup of NetLibrary Cataloging Records: a Methodical Front-End Process” In: Technical Services Quarterly, v. 23, no. 4; main contributor to the Texas cataloger newsletter, TRGCC Talks, 2002-2004; “Your thoughts, our thoughts: issues affecting academic libraries” In: Texas Library Journal (Winter, 1998); Project management and organization change from the advent to the aftermath of automation: library and cataloging department perspectives” In: Introducing and Managing Academic Library Automation Projects, Greenwood Press, 1996; and the CULD Web page/newsletter editor, 1998-1999.

Product Samples

A sample for this product is available. Please Login/Register to download this sample.

Customers who bought this item also bought

• Academic Library Cataloging Practices Benchmarks
• The Survey of Academic Library Cataloging Practices 2011-12 Edition
• The Survey of Academic Library Cataloging Practices, 2013 Edition
• The Survey of Library & Museum Digitization Projects 2011 Edition
• The International Survey of Library & Museum Digitization Projects
• The Survey of Library Employee Training Practices
• Library Use of Video & Audio, 2011-2012 Edition
• Best Practices of Public Library Information Technology Directors
• Managing Image Collections: A Practical Guide
• Profiles of Best Practices in Academic Library Interlibrary Loan