Asserting our place in the “value of libraries” conversation: the evolving role and future of cataloguing

Borie, Juliya and MacDonald, Kate and Sze, Elisa Asserting our place in the “value of libraries” conversation: the evolving role and future of cataloguing., 2014 . In Faster, Smarter and Richer. Reshaping the library catalogue, Roma (Italy), 27-28 February 2014. (Unpublished) [Presentation]

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English abstract

With the widespread availability of online resources and the associated expectations from library users that these resources be easy to find, libraries must offer increasingly sophisticated and seamless access to their collections and services. As a result, much of the recent library literature, including research reports from major library associations such as OCLC’s Perceptions of Libraries, 2010: Context and Community; ACRL’s The Value of Academic Libraries: A Comprehensive Research Review and Report (2010); ACRL’s 2012 Top 10 Trends in Academic Libraries; and RIN and RLUK’s The Value of Libraries for Research and Researchers (2011), is concerned with examining how libraries can demonstrate their value to their home institutions and communities in this new information environment. How does the value of cataloguing fit into this broader discussion of library value? By the very nature of their work, cataloguers tend to lack visibility unless they interact regularly with library users. Additionally, while technological advances and enhancements of the catalogues empower users to become more independent researchers, they make it less apparent who is behind this value­-added service. At this junction, it is essential that cataloguers are active participants in the broader discussion and demonstration of library value. But how can cataloguers participate in this discussion and express the value they bring to their institutions? Value­-added cataloguing holds the promise of helping cataloguers describe and provide access to increasingly complex digital resources beyond the confines of the traditional bibliographic record. The presentation will consider a definition of value­-added cataloguing and analyze new developments in digital publishing that challenge us to reflect on the traditional library tasks of acquiring, describing, providing access and preserving innovative and highly dynamic forms of scholarship. Finally, the authors aim to identify areas for further research that will aid cataloguers in advocating for the importance of cataloguing within the broader context of the value of libraries.

Item type:	Presentation
Keywords:	value of libraries, value of cataloguing, metadata, linked data, value-added service, cataloguing research
Subjects:	I. Information treatment for information services > IA. Cataloging, bibliographic control.
Depositing user:	Ilaria Fava
Date deposited:	24 Mar 2014 08:43
Last modified:	02 Oct 2014 12:30
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/10760/22758

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