THE BEST CATALOGER IS A FRUSTRATED LIBRARY USER, by John W. Thompson

THE BEST CATALOGER IS A FRUSTRATED LIBRARY USER: CATALOGING FAILURE AND THE UNDERUTILIZATION OF LIBRARY RESOURCES, by John W. Thompson

THEOLOGICAL LIBRARIANSHIP (vol 8 No 2)

ABSTRACT

This essay points out that inconsistencies in the assignment of subject headings and call number can lead to failure to retrieve relevant materials from our libraries. Today it is frequently asserted that bibliographic records cataloged by the Library of Congress or other approved libraries will not require review or editing in our local libraries. This paper provides clear, but by no means unique examples of “cataloging failure” and explains the implications of a policy to add unedited bibliographic records (from vendors such as OCLC) to our library catalogs. The result is the omission of otherwise relevant titles from fairly routine searches. continue reading

Canadian Library and Information Technology (LIT) Programs and ROI - Report

Accreditation for Library and Information Technology Programs in Canada: A Proposal

Christina Neigel, University of the Fraser Valley, December 2011 (Revised September 2012)

"Library technicians enjoy significant recognition in Canada and, as the expectations forinformation work expand, so does the call for technicians. According to the 8Rs, 38% ofall library paraprofessionals surveyed were technicians. Upon closer examination, 51%of paraprofessionals in special libraries are technicians and 41% in academic librarieswith numbers significantly lower in public and school libraries (27% and 28%,respectively) (Ingles et al, 2005, p. 40). It would be interesting to see further study inthis area as it is quite likely that the workforce composition varies substantially fromregion to region as well...."

"Indeed, the report suggeststhat LIT programs create a formal national venue of interaction in that competencystandards can be identified and discussed. While this analysis also recommended thatCLA regularly maintain the Guidelines for the Education of Library Technicians, there isa false assumption that CLA takes a leadership role on this issue. There exists adisconnect between the Canadian Library Association and LIT programs. Despite thehighlighted recommendation, “That MLIS and LIT educators as well as employers andassociations come together on a regular and formal basis, under the leadership of anational organization such as the Canadian Library Association, to exchange viewpointsand knowledge on the competencies needed and the education/training capacities tomeet these needs” (p. 16), this is currently not done."