Agile Cataloging: Staffing and Skills for a Bibliographic Future

Abstract

One of the foremost challenges facing technical services in academic libraries is integrating digital resources and services with existing work without a concomitant personnel expansion. The library's bibliographic data are manipulated and delivered through myriad systems and services, including proxy servers, electronic resource management systems, federated search and link resolver tools, integrated library systems, bibliographic utilities, and dozens of external data providers. In this increasingly complex environment, libraries require flexible data management and flexible staffing, which in turn relies on a reservoir of informed staff and managers who understand the many pieces of the technical services puzzle. This article discusses efforts at the University of Houston Libraries, a mid-size research library, to enhance organizational capacity for evolving cataloging roles and to foster organizational relationships that support progress in technical services functions.

Improving Library Management by Using Cost Analysis Tools: A Case Study for Cataloguing Processes

“…An additional improvement to the process can be to incorporate batch cataloguing practices and mass retrieval rather than cataloguing individual items or records (Mitchell et al, 2010). The process flow analysis enables library managers to group and improve certain activities such as searching, processing (bibliographic, holding and item descriptions), labelling and shelving.…”

“…Because of budgetary constraints and technological changes, cataloguing units have significantly influenced the nature of cataloguing work (Mitchell, Thompson, & Wu, 2010). In order to become more efficient, cataloguers constantly search for new ways to increase bibliographic access without spending more money (Morris & Wool, 1999).…”

Cresting toward the Sea Change

“…71 Mitchell, Thompson, and Wu describe their experiences with transitioning technical services staff to better reflect emerging models of discovery. 72 They say they want a more fluid dynamic among the personnel in technical services so that staff are able to take on new roles readily, with autonomy and with the proper training behind them. At the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), Leffler and Newberg report that several possible organizational structures were considered after a key staff member in technical services resigned unexpectedly.…”