The not-so-secret lives of cataloguers: modern cataloguing in a contemporary information world
•Download as PPTX, PDF•
2 likes•1,148 views
This session considers current practices and the future of cataloguing. The current reality of today’s cataloguing and the role of cataloguers will be dissected. A picture will be drawn of modern cataloguing, where thinking creatively, connecting retrieval with cataloguing, and building relationships across the library, are all paramount. Then the future of cataloguing will be imagined including some of the opportunities and issues faced. While recruitment issues and the pervasive devaluing of cataloguing work are potential impediments to progress, the opportunities offered by developments such as linked data and evolving bibliographic data models suggest an exciting cataloguing future for 2019 and beyond.
Recommended
Recommended
More Related Content
Similar to The not-so-secret lives of cataloguers: modern cataloguing in a contemporary information world
Similar to The not-so-secret lives of cataloguers: modern cataloguing in a contemporary information world (20)
More from CILIP
More from CILIP (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
The not-so-secret lives of cataloguers: modern cataloguing in a contemporary information world
- 1. The not-so-secret lives of cataloguers: modern cataloguing in a contemporary information world CILIP conference, 4th-5th July 2018 Dr Deborah Lee, The Courtauld Institute of Art @debbieleecat
- 2. Schedule 1. The role of a modern “cataloguer” 2. The future of cataloguing
- 3. What’s in a name? • This presentation: “cataloguing” • … including classification & indexing activities of cataloguers • Alternative names: o Resource description, metadata, + more
- 4. What is modern cataloguing? Creating, editing and manipulating bibliographic data for specific purposes e.g. Retrieval e.g. Inventory of digital and/or physical collections
- 5. Who is a cataloguer? • Anyone who catalogues • Cataloguing may not be in the job title • Cataloguing (& related activities) may only form a small part of working week
- 6. Who is cataloguing for? Cataloguer So, “cataloguing” differs depending on the information organisation Library users Library colleagues External catalogue users
- 7. Typical cataloguing day • Extends and enhances catalogue records • Cleans catalogue data including indexes • Follows national/international developments • Creates catalogue records for complex or difficult items • Manipulates data sets, e.g. metadata for e- book packages • Discussion and work with systems colleagues Cataloguing is never typical!
- 8. Creating or editing a catalogue record What is being considered when editing a catalogue record?
- 9. 2. The future of cataloguing Technical initiatives for 2018 and beyond • 3R project and LRM • BIBFRAME and linked data • Increasing ability to manipulate data collectively (e.g. MARCedit)
- 10. Who teaches people how to catalogue? Where do the knowledge and skills come from? Important to teach understanding of cataloguing, not just procedures
- 11. Expertise and recruitment What could we do about issues in recruiting knowledgeable cataloguing staff? • Share training expertise • National mentoring scheme • Aptitude tests rather than skill tests • Look strategically at national level/CILIP
- 12. Hopes and dreams • Algorithms can take over logical processes • Deeper theoretical understanding of cataloguing (also helps machine learning or AI) • Better appreciation of cataloguing within LIS community
Editor's Notes
- Cataloguing and its associated activities are vital cogs in the contemporary information world This paper is going to consider what it means to “catalogue” in 2018, and what a cataloguing or cataloguig-related role might really involve It will question what we are trying to achieve when cataloguing and how this fits in with the library or information organisation’s work I hope that for anyone who already catalogues, this talk is a good opportunity to reflect upon our role For anyone who doesn’t catalogue – yet – or hasn’t in the past, then I hope it will be useful to hear about the working life of cataloguers
- So, I will start with the present and think about what is cataloguing today While I will be talking as generally as possible, I will be drawing upon my own experiemces and many conversayions with my colleagues at other institutions. I have spent 10 years leading the cataloguing of a small, specialist university library, so my own experiences are unusual but no entirely unique. I will then share some of my thoughts about the future of cataloguing: picking out some significant issues ahead and some of the opportunities, in particular, thinking about where does the knowledge and understanding needed to do cataloguing come from, and what happens to knowledge of catalaloguing in a more machine led world So please follow me as we enter the not so secret world of a cataloguer
- The first thing to consider are the terms cataloguer and cataloguing How old fashioned! One issue cataloguing is defined as making a catalogue. These days, we don’t really make a catalogue in the same way. Should I use it at all? Not very trendy, but like many things, it serves it purpose and useful shorthand However, not literally as going to be including the tasks done as part of cataloguing which are technically classification and indexing. David H talked aout these earlier Alternatives: when I lecture, I call it resource description as broader and less tied to the history of cataloguing and all that imagery of card catalogues, which is better. Colleagues called resource discovery – I like this as very clear link to our purspoes
- Well, so what is cataloguing? I would say that Modern cataloguing is creating, editing and manipulating I think the real change, even in my career of about 17 years, has been emphasis shifted from creating/heavy editing towards lighter editing and manipulating. Workflows, financial, globalised cataloguing all means you are spending time getting bibliographic data to be useful to you rather than creating data from scratch (but is workplace contextual) Why is this thing called cataloguing needed, or a better question is what would happen if it didn’t happen? Purpose: retrieval Purpose: Also inventory. We all know what happens when we don’t know what it is in our libraries Hasn’t changed just because more digital environment. Might be stored elsewhere and ownership ideas are different so “inventory” has a different meaning, but still cataloguing serves some purpose as an inventory.
- So, who is counted as cataloguer? Well I think in many working environments, many people working in cataloguing throughout a library So, to some extent many cataloguers. Or as a colleague in CIG put it a few weeks ago, “We are everywhere” So what I am saying today to some degree applies equally to those who do cataloguign stuff for a few minutes a week, to those who do cataloguing things most of their week and would proudly self-define as catalogue Even in jobs in a previous lifetime might have been called “cataloguers”, it is not always going to be in the job title, especially in the UK (and I think there are US and UK differences here) Depending on your organisation, the cataloguers also enquiries etc. Miss out: This brings me on to … Love of cats, cardigans, punctuation, etc. are optional, and as lecturer, trainer and recruiter of cataloguing … modern information world demands those who are responsible for cataloguing our resources and data have a willingness to engage with colleagues and users!
- Who is it for? The library users – of course. If it doesn’t help them, is it worth doing? Manifests itself as … focus our efforts on the elements of data that are most helpful, speediest work on things needed the most, and potential localisation of practices to serve our communities Yes all these, but in some instance, no, as not the only users of cataloguing data Information staff. Retrieval and People Examples, buying, systems team (be helpful, e.g. putting same types of data in same place) External users of catalogue …could be the person who uses your catalogue through something like copac, who never comes into your library but uses your data, or other librarians who use your records; or even your role in national/international developments of standards and practices So, two things are inevitable outcomes: Cataloguing by definition will be different depending on the information organisation (if practices and techniques driven by users/staff) Need to build relationships, certainly with the users and other information staff, and at least build a good information flow for the national/internal community, and preferably a relationship so can influence outcomes and learn
- Some catalogue records never reach cataloguing, will depend on workflow, and some editing done by acquisitions/cataloguing staff. Many other combinations/worflows and always changing Possibly no. 2 most important in a sense. Cataloguer role moved from creation to managing and editing Lots of developments right now. Often not enough time, so a bit of a fantasy In certain libraries creating records is still important. Not one by one cataloguing. Maniiuplate and create data as data sets. Either through system or through tools such as Marcedit Last one is important but not always done. 2-way communciation between those
- Finally, while thinking about current ... It is worth taking a minute or two to think about the sorts of things a cataloguer may be thinking about, when editing a catalogue record Creative process! Art not mechanical process Here is an example of a record which was downloaded into the Courtauld’s catalogue, and will be edited before the exhibition catalogue goes on the shelves If I was cataloguing this, what sort of things would I be thinking about I will be editing line by line (though not every library is), but really interested in what will affect retrieval and inventory In other words, mistakes, typos, things which might stop someone finding this book. E.g. typo in title But also … things which might stop someone finding this book on our catalogue (not the same thing). Particularly in RDA, much more reliance on local cataloguing, which means things are grouped together differently at different institutions. What we call relationship designators, which desribe the relationship between a person and the resource (agaent to manifestation). Make sure used same level of detail for this record as another. Both correct in theory, butif external record used a different one, won’t match up Levels of detail. They have used lots of places of publication. May not be my policy, but does it hurt to leave in? Rule: if not hurting you don’t get rid of it (at least, more modern thinking) Who cares about spelling of colour? New in RDA as abbreviation. As cataloguing, at strategic level my instiutution (my role) has decided on impact of leaving as is versus changing. Thiking about searching. The record is self explanatory that this is an exhibition catalogue/ But we use different ording which might come up in keyword search. Cataloguers make the call whether to change or leave Inventory. E.g. does it matter if ISBNs for edition we don’t have? If just a different binding then no, but for e-books then yes. So, checking pagination and language are extremely important. Reading the record for signs that this record, which is a surragate of the whole print run and subsequent runs, is actuallt what I have. The information that is useful but in the wrong place, e.g. about the photographer. Definitely “wrong” to leave it in, but my job is to work out whether it matters. I think it does, as could be usefully added to record for the person Mixture of RDA and AACR2. Physical signs of RDA, but looks like a machine change but non complete. Why would I convert to RDA? Because I believe that while RDA separates elements, essentially decisions made which affect whole entity. Can’t treat whole book together if part on AACR2 and part in RDA, as two different rules acting on same element (can’t follow two systems at once for same piece of data). This is for correctness but also confusion Pnctuatoion: I am looking at what would be confusing on the OPAC, and to my colleagues. Professional pride and the fact it is so quick to change means I would correct any other errors. But in old records? No, unless punctuation makes the record is confusing on OPAC I would kindly say thatThis is not data entry! Creative.
- So, what about the future? Well, there are a number of changes and new sets of rules, guidelines and models which will have a major impact on future Major change to RDA, 3R. LRM change to model. Impact on teaching and understanding of RDA. 3R. Change to toolkit. Beta version a few weeks ago. Met with some criticism, according to Twitter and mailing lists! Change in what the Toolkit is, and what it provides. Major changes to structure, but most comment about removing rule numbering and how you catalogue using the toolkit BIBFRAME. Linked data. Supersede MARC. Been developed since 2010/2011 ish. Used in some libraries as trial, but not yet ready for major use in library catalogues. Will require big systems changes and changes in mindset. Expect even more need to and simplified ways to maniripulate large quantities of data. MARCedit is amazing.
- When consider the future, a vital element is to think about how will the future generations of those wanting to work in cataloguing or improve their knowledge, gain their learning? LIS programmes. Balance between theory and practice. I can only talk about my teaching. When I teach, very interested in conceptual ideas so understand what trying to do. I know the technical details will change, but if understand what doing, why, and consequences, richer cataloguing in the end But … doesn’t take you to the experience levels needed to do a cataloguing job well, so what next, and not everyone is going through LIS programmes In hosue training. This used to be an important source for training. But … few people have time to teach their colleagues, or possibly the skills. (Even when teaching taught at LIS programmes, limited teaching about teaching colleagues, so could specialise in career and LIS, and not get official time to reflect and learn about teaching it … I went around another way.) When Courtauld did, but we benefited greatly not just from the GTs work at the time, butmany then chose a career and ended up producing good quality records elsewhere or even for us. National training will offer basic introductions, plus specialised groups will offer training for specific formats or tasks, e.g. CILIP rare books group, ARLIS, IAML … Not forgetting our colleagues in ISKO who offer some training in indexing and classification Also, while self-taught not ideal, can be effective, especially if experienced cataloguer learning a new format or updating skills. For basic introduction, there is my CILIP online course, which acts as a taster and basic intro However, could argue that the most effective for teaching someone rom scratch, with indivdiual help for records. This model used for decades in individual institutions and programmes such as NACO (to some degree). But … the climate is changing. Culd argue that one of the factors leading to …
- So, this is the bit where I get a bit controversial Experiences have been told to me, anonymously, and my own experience, about problems in finding cataloguing staff. We have great colleagues, but can be difficult to find them. Note, from what I see in teaching, training, line managing new professionals (GTs) and recruiting, is a GREAT enthusiasm for cataloguing. So, this is about turning that into skills. Obviously, reduction in in-house training playing its part What can we do to mitigate I believe gap between LIS/basic training and individual skills So, what, can we do about it Working together with institutions to share expertise … e.g. RDA worked with neighbour institution to share my training Mentoring. Talked about. But too short staffed to do. Think about what we ask from people. I have always been limited to people who can already catalogue well. I test them on what they know and what they understand. A time might come when I cannot do that. I know one institution using aptitude test. Perhaps the future we could look at collaboratively developing one. Again, sharing our expertise, even more than we do already. But what comes alongside apittutde tests is the willingness to invest in training that can only be offered in house. Strategically….. Thinking big and ideas ….Is there a problem with perception of cataloguers? What about the space between LIS and workplace, is there space for new types of teaching? Also, what about the people who are teaching it (e.g. could do FHEA, PGCert, as no encouragement or possibility to do this now … developing the trainers …. Info literacy community working with the cataloguing community?)
- But on to the hope … Maybe more long term, but some of this happening now In 3 years I don’t want to be adding punctuation and similar to records. When MARC21 goes, this will probably go, but should be done automatically Arguably much more theoretical research about KO (not necessarily in the UK; see e.g. ISKO) than about cataloguing. AI – I don’t know how this will play out, but from the little I do know, to teach a machine to do something, you need to understand or develop an understanding of how a human does it. I would argue that we don’t with cataloguing. We have rules, but have we studied the processes? Is cataloguing still the cinderella of the LIS community? Things are changing for the better here, but need to do more to get message out about the importance of creating and manipulating data. Showing some bad records and thinking about their impact is a good way to start. To conclude, the life of a cataloguer is an exciting one: balancing out competing demands and considerations, building relationships (even virtual) with users and other staff, and manipulating and editing data as a kind of engine house of a library. There may be obstacles in our path about the seemingly neverending changes to standards, and I think we have some serious issues ahead about teaching the next generation, but notwithstanding all of this, cataloguing has a critical role in the modern information world.
- Cat as in cataloguing, not the feline variety