Conversations With Catalogers in the 21st Century

Cataloging is evolving, not going away. Library and information science faculty accept the fact that the catalog of old is no more while they know that the underlying concepts remain valid and vital to the future of libraries and their staff. An appreciation for how information is derived and structured continues to be critical in order to serve users effectively.

Library specialists in the cataloging and metadata professions have a greater purpose than simply managing information and connecting users to resources. There is a deeper and more profound impact that comes of their work: preservation of the human record.

Conversations with Catalogers in the 21st Century contains 18 chapters addressing broad categories of issues that catalogers and metadata librarians are currently facing. Every important topic is covered, such as changing metadata practices, standards, data record structures, data platforms, and user expectations, providing both theoretical and practical information. Guidelines for dealing with present challenges are based on fundamentals from the past. Recommendations on training staff, building new information platforms of digital library resources, documenting new cataloging and metadata competencies, and establishing new workflows enable a real-world game plan for improvement.

Elaine R. Sanchez is head of cataloging and metadata services, Alkek Library, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX.