[DCRM-L] Cataloging production outcomes

Tue Nov 1 14:08:49 MDT 2016

I'm no expert, but it took me 3 years to process roughly 5000 books (mostly
original cataloguing). I'm pretty impressed with your numbers, quite
frankly. Each one of those tasks requires a tonne of attention and care. As
the old data-entry saying goes: "Garbage in - Garbage out." Sure, you could
go faster, but who knows how many mistakes would occur and what that would
mean for reference. If you pull any job ad for cataloguing, one of the top
character traits of a good cataloguer is "attention to detail."

I don't envy your position, but I am in awe of your production.

Good luck.

On Tue, Nov 1, 2016 at 3:56 PM, Lawler, Martha <Martha.Lawler at lsus.edu>
wrote:

> Hello all,
>
>
>
> This topic has been discussed before, so my apologies for bringing it up
> again.  Our collection is actually owned by a private foundation and the
> foundation board have been very supportive of our work.  However, one
> member is questioning why it is taking so long to get everything
> cataloged.  The whole collection contains approximately 250,000 items and
> slightly more than 40,000 have been cataloged.  Up until two years ago, I
> was the only cataloger, so the foundation hired two more catalogers.
> Together they add about 600 items to the online catalog per month and I add
> about 100.  At this point, most of what we do is copy-cataloging, which is
> done using rare book guidelines, even if the item is not particularly
> special.  I handle the more difficult materials and supervise the general
> workflow.  All of us also handle other duties, such as reference questions,
> tour groups, exhibits, etc.  As a faculty member and as the supervisor, I
> also have other duties that take time away from cataloging.
>
>
>
> The foundation board, especially this particular member, want us to
> promote the collection and help researchers, in addition to cataloging,
> which is fine with us.  I have explained that those activities take away
> from cataloging and that the amount we accomplish is not too bad.  I have
> also explained that the extra attention to detail is not only what
> researchers need, but also creates a more precise inventory record.
>
>
>
> I am curious to know how other institutions manage the cataloging
> workflow.  Are we going too slow?  The option of reducing the amount of
> detail is not what anyone wants.  How do you explain to benefactors (who
> are not familiar with library work, particularly cataloging) the amount of
> time and care it takes to create a truly beneficial product?
>
>
>
> The board meets on Friday and I have been asked to create a report on the
> status of our cataloging.  I would like to be able to give some idea of how
> we compare to other cataloging departments.  Any thoughts, comments, etc.
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
>
>
> Thanks so much in advance!
>
>
>
> *Martha M. Lawler, MLS*
>
> *Principal Cataloger*
>
> *James Smith Noel Collection*
>
> *Louisiana State University Shreveport*
>
> Office: (318) 798-4163   Fax: (318) 797-5156
>
> Martha.Lawler at lsus.edu
> <https://connect.emailsrvr.com/owa/redir.aspx?REF=H7FZ4RMQSGOZAqtO5bOiGQwgQEO0cV8uMkMZnkFraYD8iDSWaPTTCAFodHRwczovL2Nvbm5lY3QuZW1haWxzcnZyLmNvbS9vd2EvcmVkaXIuYXNweD9SRUY9WWxKdVZGQy1NLTRzYUtQeHlaQUF6QjQ4VU5ESFNpc1oyZDZCNXU5T2tlTWxVMUdiVl9UVENBRm9kSFJ3Y3pvdkwyTnZibTVsWTNRdVpXMWhhV3h6Y25aeUxtTnZiUzl2ZDJFdmNtVmthWEl1WVhOd2VEOVNSVVk5U2pkRmVVSmtRMmhoZWpGeGRXZFpNRkE1TUVOclJIazNZWGxKVTJKR09XbHNRakpWUVdOdGEyOXlRWE50Ylc1d2RsQlFWRU5CUm5SWlYyeHpaRWM0TmxSWFJubGtSMmhvVEd0NGFHUXllR3hqYTBKell6Tldla3h0Vm10a1VTNHU.>
> www.lsus.edu
> <https://connect.emailsrvr.com/owa/redir.aspx?REF=PsGy8Nqvw75KmWiL7M41kQf8WCbmsj03-Qsxhf3nv3X8iDSWaPTTCAFodHRwczovL2Nvbm5lY3QuZW1haWxzcnZyLmNvbS9vd2EvcmVkaXIuYXNweD9SRUY9MUNkanh4SzVHTkpBQU5ZdEx0UmZ3Z1cyeS1vZm9GdUZLQzhQYUlVTW9JWWxVMUdiVl9UVENBRm9kSFJ3Y3pvdkwyTnZibTVsWTNRdVpXMWhhV3h6Y25aeUxtTnZiUzl2ZDJFdmNtVmthWEl1WVhOd2VEOVNSVVk5TUMxbVZpMU9PV0ZCY2swek9XSTVXbDlaWmxabmFsVldkbmQyZDAxUU9IRk1ORzR3U0U4NFZrRmhSWE50Ylc1d2RsQlFWRU5CUm05a1NGSjNUMms0ZG1RelpETk1iWGg2WkZoTmRWcFhVakZNZHk0dQ..>
>
> [image: LSUS_Secondary_RGB Purple-Gold_email]
>
>
>

-- 
Estelle Markel-Joyet, MLIS
Assistant Head of Cataloguing
emarkel-joyet at amphilsoc.org

American Philosophical Society
Benjamin Franklin Hall
427 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
http://www.amphilsoc.org/

APS Rights & Reproduction Policies:
http://www.amphilsoc.org/library/rights
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserver.lib.byu.edu/pipermail/dcrm-l/attachments/20161101/6a32f539/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1090 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://listserver.lib.byu.edu/pipermail/dcrm-l/attachments/20161101/6a32f539/attachment-0001.jpg>