Good morning,
I'm reading this PhD-discussion with interest. I'm "just" a cataloger
with a MLIS and a MA in Theology. Since I graduated from Library School
I consider enrolling in a PhD program. However, I'm still looking for a
mentor, information, encouragement, and so on ... If you know what I
mean. So I'm really interested in your discussion.
If you need help from a person with a viewpoint from someone who wants
to get his PhD, I'm more than willing to help and to be involved in your
discussion and plans, even if you need someone for a panel discussion.
I'll get my first teaching experience in Spring 2009, though not in
cataloging or library science but in German culture. I see my future in
research and teaching.
Just my two cents: If Library schools need faculty and/or students who
are willing and able to pursue a doctoral education, they should do more
outreach, some mentor programs, and get more information out.

I'm looking forward to a program on doctoral education at ALA. I will go
to the midwinter and annual meeting.
Marcus



Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of
enthusiasm. -- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)


Marcus Richter
Catalog Librarian
Liaison to German, Classical Languages, Philosopy, and Religion
Pickler Memorial Library
Truman State University
100 East Normal Street
Kirksville, MO 63501
phone: 660-785-4539
email: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion List for issues related to cataloging & metadata
education & training [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hoffman,
Gretchen
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 6:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [eduCAT] Doctoral Education in Cataloging

Hi Allyson,
 
This is a fantastic idea. I would be happy to help. Just let me know
what I can do.
 
Thank you!
 
Gretchen    
 
Gretchen L. Hoffman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Library and Information Studies
Texas Woman's University

________________________________

From: Discussion List for issues related to cataloging & metadata
education & training on behalf of Allyson Carlyle
Sent: Wed 9/24/2008 3:05 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [eduCAT] Doctoral Education in Cataloging



Hi everyone,

At ALA I attended a meeting of the ALCTS Committee on Education (Sylvia,
that's the name of it, yes?).  Sylvia Hall-Ellis is the chair. In a
small group discussion, we discussed the shortage of cataloging faculty
- full time, tenure track faculty whose main area of research is
cataloging - and how important it is for schools with LIS programs to
have a such a faculty member.  At the very least, it means that there is
someone who is part of the full time faculty who can fight for
cataloging curricula.  I think I don't need to lecture you all about of
the other reasons why it is important :-)

An idea we had was to have an information session at the next ALA annual
with a panel of folks who can speak to why one would want to get a phd
with a research focus in cataloging, where the best places to go to get
such a phd might be, how to apply, etc.  I helped organize an event like
this in Anaheim aimed at encouraging librarians of color to apply for
phds in LIS.  It was very successful, and I would hope that if we
advertised widely, we might meet with some success next year offering
one aimed at doctoral education in cataloging.

While it is true that there may be some schools that would not want to
hire a tenure track cataloging faculty member, I believe that there are
more than one might think that would hire if they found someone who
knocked their socks off.  Many faculty postings these days are open -
that is, there are no specific areas of expertise listed.  I am afraid
that we are not educating enough doctoral students to fill these
positions, and that as a consequence cataloging courses either disappear
or are marginalized in the curriculum because they are not associated
with a regular tenure track faculty member (this is not to disparage any
of you fabulous practitioners who teach our cataloging courses - far
from it - it is, unfortunately, a reality that when you have full time
faculty associated with courses these courses are viewed as more central
to the curriculum).

If I remember correctly, the group who met to discuss this included me,
Sylvia, Cheryl Boettcher-Tarsala, Elaine Yontz, and Karen Snow.  If
anyone else would be interested in helping me (us) organize and work on
this, please let me know.

Finally, I'd like to ask all of you out there who are full-time faculty
members in cataloging and can supervise doctoral students to come to
such a panel session should we be able to organize it.  In Anaheim, we
had representatives from almost every single doctoral granting
institution available to meet with prospective students, and I think it
worked very well.

Thanks all,
Allyson

Allyson Carlyle
Associate Professor and Chair, PhD Program
Information School
MGH 370
University of Washington
Seattle, WA  98195-2840
USA

(206) 543-1887