Cataloguing training at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine

Abstract

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of a series of in-house training offered to cataloguers and para-professional cataloguing staff at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Design/methodology/approach -The instrument used for the survey was a questionnaire which sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the training over a two-year period. Through the application of a five-point Likert scale respondents were required to indicate their levels of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the training sessions. Findings -The paper reveals the relevance and effectiveness of a structured approach to cataloguing training and highlights the need for cataloguing staff to keep abreast of current trends through continuing education. It also demonstrates a dire need for greater collaboration between library schools and libraries in the development of proficiencies for entry level cataloguers.Research limitations/implications -The collective evaluation of professionals and paraprofessionals with varying levels of cataloguing knowledge and competencies impacted on the reliability of the data. Originality/value -The paper serves as a model for future cataloguing training at the St Augustine Campus Libraries and can be adapted by other libraries for meeting their training needs in cataloguing.

Cataloguing and Classification Education (CCE) and Training in Library and Information Science/ Studies Departments in South Africa

“…This shortage would explain why LIS schools in South Africa are increasingly challenged and encouraged to produce more cataloguers for the library market. Bowen-Chang and Hosein (2009) suggest that the infusion of technological innovations into libraries and the changing role of cataloguers have unearthed a new dimension in the sphere of cataloguing that influences its teaching as well. Thus, notes Hill (2004), cataloguing education has changed and the on-going process of transformation is taking it in different and unforeseen directions.…”

“…It should enable students to make information management decisions, as well as to analyse, synthesise, and evaluate publications of different types and formats. Many authors (for example, Gorman 2002, Cloete, Snyman & Cronje 2003, Gathegi & Mwathi 2007, Bowen-Chang & Hosein 2009, Shongwe and Ocholla 2011 support the teaching of cataloguing and classification for LIS education and see it as an important component of the organisation of recorded knowledge. Gorman is critical of those whom he calls "enemies of cataloguing".…”