Metadata and Cataloging Practices

Metadata standards existing today range from very complex to very simple. Relative simplicity or complexity of metadata standards depends in large part on the resources for which they were created and the depth of description that is deemed necessary to make these resources accessible. This paper reviews the differences between metadata standards and current cataloging practices, and discusses how the various metadata standards are applied in libraries. In addressing these issues, the authors introduce definitions of key concepts of metadata and cataloging standards and provide an overview of the most common metadata schemes. The discussion of current cataloging practices includes an overview of the most commonly used cataloging practices and standards, the impact of metadata on library practice and the role of librarians related to metadata. The authors will discuss the OHIOLINK Electronic Thesis and Dissertations (ETD) as an example of how Anglo-American Cataloging Rules 2nd (AACR2) and Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC21) are used as metadata to store, describe and access this unique information resource

The Emergence of the Metadata Cataloger: Are Cataloging and Metadata Two Separate Fields?

As a new Librarian straight out of my MSIS program, I am seeing a shift in the idea of what constitutes the position of “Cataloging Librarian.” As a student worker at UT Austin while in library school, and in my current position as Cataloging Librarian at Binghamton University, I have seen in both places a rising discussion of how cataloging should evolve to keep up with the reframing and rebranding that is taking place throughout all aspects of libraries and librarianship. A common answer that seems to be rising is that cataloging is and needs to continue its reframing to include the newer, broader field of metadata. So, we see cataloging practices shifting to include metadata projects such as digitization. The presentation I am proposing would discuss this reframing of cataloging as a merger between the traditional idea of cataloging and the new area of “metadata.” I would like to use the research I have been conducting with a partner for a journal article as the starting point for my presentation. I have recently begun, with a partner, research for an article in which we wanted to explore how difficult it was for college and university affiliated academic libraries to fill advertised cataloging positions. We gathered data on such advertised positions from the years 2014-2016, so we have two years worth of advertisements. Initially we included in our dataset only advertisements that described positions that involved cataloging at least 50% of the time. We tried to create a sizeable dataset from advertisements that included “cataloging” specifically in the title as well. However, in compiling this list and looking at the job descriptions we realized we would not have a large enough dataset for our article unless we included jobs that referenced not only cataloging, but also metadata duties in at least equal measure. Many advertised positions required cataloging and metadata components, leading to the topic of my proposed presentation. I would like to present on how, to keep up with 21st century trends, the field of cataloging is merging with and being folded into the new field of metadata, and how this is causing cataloging jobs to be reframed as well

The Evolving Cataloging Department

The shrinking of traditional cataloging departments is not news to library technical services staff. Nor is it news that digital projects that require standardized metadata are being created and supported by the same libraries that employ traditional catalogers. What may be less apparent is the ease with which a traditional cataloging unit can be transformed to incorporate metadata creation in the regular workflow of these units. IUPUI University Library’s Bibliographic and Metadata Services Team (BAMS) has made this transition and provides one example of how libraries can capitalize on the wealth of skilled employees already in place. This article discusses the full range of ideologies already in place and tactics used, including hiring a metadata cataloger, collaborating with digital initiatives groups in and outside the library, outsourcing some of the traditional cataloging, and training copy catalogers to create metadata to increase the viability and currency of the skills of a traditional cataloging unit

Teaching a Cataloging/Metadata Course in a Changing World: Experience and Reflection

In this paper, we explore the most essential knowledge and skills to impart in an introductory-level cataloging and metadata course. We use the basic cataloging and metadata class in the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Library and Information Science Program as a case study, sharing our experiences, thoughts, and planned future direction in teaching cataloging, classification, metadata, and information organization. We investigate what University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Library and Information Science (LIS) students expect to learn from the class, as well as how they perceive knowledge of and skills in cataloging and metadata affecting their career paths. We also inquire into topics that the students are interested in exploring related to cataloging and metadata. We examine emerging trends and evaluate which information and skills are most useful for LIS students and new librarians to learn for their library careers. These ideas are built upon our own experiences teaching these topics. This article synthesizes literature review, observation of trends within cataloging and metadata, and surveys taken by students enrolled in the course.                                             

Traditions and Transitions in Batchloaded Catalog Data

A Report of The ALCTS Cataloging & Metadata Management Section Cataloging & Classification Research Interest Group, American Library Association Midwinter Meeting, Dallas, Texas, January 2012 The ALCTS Cataloging & Metadata Management Section Cataloging & Classification Research Interest Group (CCRIG) met at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas for three presentations on the topic of “Traditions and Transitions in Batchloaded Catalog Data,” followed by a panel discussion by the speakers addressing audience questions

Metadata Maker

Metadata Maker was developed to improve the productivity of cataloging and metadata workflows, allowing anyone to create metadata in various formats, regardless of their familiarity and experience with metadata standards.Ope

Building Expertise From Within: One Department\u27s Look at New Ways to Cultivate Cataloging Knowledge for their Staff

USU Cataloging and Metadata Services Unit looked at new ways to cultivate cataloging knowledge for their staff

You May Own It . . . But Can They Find It? A Panel Discussion: Part 3 of Panel Presentation: Collection-Level Cooperative Cataloging

Have you purchased e-book or e-journal collections where the metadata was not provided or was incomplete? Can users find all of your collections? If metadata is unavailable, researchers can’t find your materials, resulting in lower usage. Library directors and electronic resources managers are encouraged to add metadata specialists to their e-resources teams by reassigning catalogers. Catalogers are encouraged to develop skills for cataloging collections, in addition to their skills cataloging individual items

Preparing LIS Students for a Career in Metadata Librarianship

This study examines the field of metadata librarianship and its emergence from the field of traditional MARC cataloging. Through a survey distributed to academic librarians, public librarians, digital librarians, special librarians, corporate librarians, archivists and others currently working with metadata, data was collected to determine what Library and Information Science students interested in metadata librarianship need to know to pursue a career in this field. The data collected includes job titles encompassing metadata work, the typical career trajectories of those working in the field, education and training received both prior to and after entering the metadata field, and the most frequently used metadata standards in modern library and information science environments. The results of the study revealed the LIS courses metadata specialists have found most useful to their current work, which standards are most frequently being used and areas where LIS programs could improve current course offerings to provide adequate preparation for LIS students interested in this area

A Road Taken: A Cataloging Team Becomes a Metadata Team

This chapter describes the issues confronted along the “road taken” by a technical services team as it transitioned from traditional monographic cataloging to metadata for digital collections. To serve changing user needs, the team shifted focus to providing quality metadata. Along this road, the team confronted and welcomed a number of changes. These included a unit merger, off-site relocation, shedding the cataloging role, learning how to produce metadata, identifying areas for growth with a library-wide Metadata Summit, working with new stakeholders, and managing new staff and faculty. The chapter concludes with the lessons the team learned and its prospects