A Has-Been Cataloger
Looks at What Cataloging
Will Be …
(after her next retirement)
Diane I. Hillmann
Director of Metadata Initiatives
Information Institute of Syracuse

Converging Trends
 More catalogers work at a support staff level than as
professional librarians
 More cataloging records are selected by machines
 More catalog records are being captured from publisher data
or other sources
 More updating of catalog records is done via batch processes
 Libraries continue to de-emphasize processing of secondary
research products (books & serials) in favor of unique,
primary materials
ALA 2008 Anaheim 6/29/08

What Are Our Choices?
Door #1
ALA 2008 Anaheim
Door #2 6/29/08