I think Keith raises a very interesting point that should be seriously considered. >I seriously wonder if it will become a post qualification specialism - so that those that approach it understand how significant it is before they undertake it, and therfore approach it with the appropriate mind set. > I, too, am concerned about the lack of emphasis on cataloging, or even the requirement of an introductory course to familiarize students with the basic concepts and tools for cataloging. When I was in library school back in the 1980s, a basic cataloging course was required, and an advanced course and a few specialized courses were offered for those who chose a career path as a cataloger. I now look back and realize how fortunate I was to have received the training I did from my professor. We learned both Dewey and LC classification, Sears/LCSH, standard punctuation, and indexing and authority principles. While I didn't have a lot of experience when I started my first job as a cataloger, I could navigate my way and was supervised by two very experienced catalogers. Mary Beth Weber Head, Cataloging Department Rutgers University Libraries Trickey, Keith wrote: >Having taught cataloguing in the UK for the last 20 years and watched the progressive decline in the number of students taking LIS courses and maintaining a core cat and class element in the course my response was to develop training courses via the professional association (CILIP) and deliver onsite training. I now deliver a far wider range of cat and clss material to a professional audience. > >Many courses in the UK simply do not do any have core modules in "cat and class" on LIS courses. > >I seriously wonder if it will become a post qualification specialism - so that those that approach it understand how significant it is before they undertake it, and therfore approach it with the appropriate mind set. > >Best wishes > > Keith > >Keith V. Trickey >Senior Lecturer >School of Business Information >Liverpool John Moores University > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Discussion List for issues related to cataloging & metadata education & training on behalf of Cheryl Boettcher Tarsala >Sent: Wed 6/14/2006 6:23 AM >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: On My Mind (AL, June/July issue) > >Has anyone else read the "On My Mind" piece by Arthur Marx in this >month's American Libraries? In it, he speaks of his experience >learning cataloging on the job where he is the only cataloger. He's >certainly not the first MLS graduate to find himself unexpectedly >hired as a cataloger, but it's kind of surprising he was hired in a >world of job ads that demand "two years experience." > >Do you think his lack of cataloging knowledge coming out of a basic >cataloging course is only to be expected? Are our across-the-board >average outcomes this low so that a student passing a basic >cataloging course doesn't really have the punctuation down, or >understand an authority record? > >