Library automation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1965-2000

The Evolution of Technical Services: Learning From the Past and Embracing the Future

“…There was concern among both former public and technical services staff that cataloging would not get completed in a decentralized environment, and it was felt that in this new model original cataloging-both in quality of records and the retention of cataloging skills-seemed to suffer the most (Bregman & Burger, 2002). The library administration did acknowledge that cataloging was more efficient when centralized, but the ''aim underlying its decentralization was to improve library service by placing more personnel in units working directly with the public,'' and the new organizational structure was seen as a success ''in terms of service improvement'' because the catalogers were added as additional librarians to the different public service units (Williams, 1987, p. 13).…”

“…Additional internal reports echoed the concerns with a decentralized system in 1990, 1992, and 1993, but with none of the recommendations being implemented. During 1996-2000, an updated cataloging system, the Data Research Associates (DRA) system, was implemented (Bregman & Burger, 2002). In January, 2000, University Librarian Paula Kaufman appointed a task force to reevaluate the cataloging workflows and determine if more efficient procedures could be put in place.…”