Getting out of the cataloging business
On Friday I announced to the University Library staff that we are effectively “getting out of the cataloging business”. I know this will not come as a shock to many who have paid attention to the changing library landscape! However, our library has been very traditional! Original catalogers will be moving to “tiered reference”. Copy cataloging will cease. We hope to do this as soon as possible and are offering separation incentives to staff.
At the same time, we are moving forward in several new directions and new librarian positions are being created. These include:
Digital Strategies Librarian: This position will be responsible for developing our digital library program; building our digital infrastructure; assisting with implementation of an institutional repository; and developing strategies to align us with programs at the provincial and national level such as Alouette.
Systems Librarian: We’re still working on the title on this one! It will be responsible for managing systems and emerging technologies in the IT part of “the house”.
E-Resource Librarian: This position will be in Collections and will be responsible for managing our e-resource licenses.
Training and Development Librarian: This position will assist with staff development but will also work with the librarians to develop an understanding of “curriculum development”.
In some cases existing staff are being recognized for work they are doing with title changes. These include:
User Experience Librarian: Amanda Etches-Johnson has been doing web development work and will continue to do this while also exploring new and emerging technologies such as Web 2.0, virtual worlds, etc. Her focus will be on improving the user experience regardless of how they come to us in the electronic environment.
Liaison Coordinator: Barbara McDonald will be responsible for creating and implementing a new liaison program.
Access Services: Donna Millard will be responsible for a newly merged ILL/Circulation/Tiered Reference department. Ultimately we are moving to a single service point model.
A more detailed org chart is forthcoming…This is “phase I”
December 5, 2006 at 1:06 am
I’m apparently coimng late to this party– does this mean you will be outsourcing 100% of your cataloging needs with the new catalog?
December 5, 2006 at 9:10 pm
What services are you planning to use for outsourcing cataloging?
December 5, 2006 at 10:42 pm
I’ll be watching this with interest, for sure — hope you’ll continue to share details with us!
December 6, 2006 at 1:36 am
In doing this, McMaster will lose all in-house cataloging (i.e., organization of information, information access, etc.) expertise. This kind of decision is usually one libraries regret later on when it is too late. IT is short sighted, as it assumes you can take from Peter to pay Paul, without future consequences.
December 6, 2006 at 10:16 pm
[...] Jeff Trzeciak, director of the McMaster University Library, announced on his blog on Monday that his library is “getting out of the cataloging business.” Jeff wrote: [...]
December 6, 2006 at 11:01 pm
What about Special Collections cataloging? I can’t image how a library could outsource those valuable and often rare/unique materials.
December 8, 2006 at 12:14 am
Very interesting. Is there someone out there who can tell me what “tiered reference” is? If the original cataloguers are moving there at McMaster is it a different environment to regular reference?
December 19, 2006 at 12:59 am
[...] I was really impressed with the blog from the Bibliographic Services Department at McMaster University. They’ve found a good way to keep their staff informed about projects and news in cataloging. But the site will probably come down soon, because McMaster is getting out of the cataloging business. Awkward… [...]
December 30, 2006 at 1:30 pm
I’d be curious to know if you’re reducing your involvement in the ILS business, as well. It’s quite the sucking wound.
January 10, 2007 at 7:36 pm
[...] Just got a link in my del.icio.us inbox that the university down the highway from me, McMaster is disbanding their catalouging department. [...]
March 6, 2007 at 11:14 pm
[...] of the things that was a shock to me was that McMaster University Library “got out of the cataloging business” and has shifted their catalogers to other departments. It was also interesting to see the [...]