[DCRM-L] Program planning for rare materials catalogers

[Rich, Allison]

Christine:

I completely agree.
You make very good points.
We've been struggling for a little under 20 years with administrators who
focused outwardly because it brings glory to the library and to them.
Cataloguing / Tech services is not "sexy" to a lot of these outwardly
focused people.
We know it's vital.

On Wed, Feb 24, 2021 at 10:39 AM Christine Megowan <cmegowan at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Relating to what Alison said about demsytifying rare materials cataloging,
> one topic which has been on my mind a lot recently is how to advocate for
> catalogers and cataloging.
>
> When we do our work well, it becomes almost invisible as users are able to
> find the resources they need without difficulty. If I may be allowed to
> make a sweeping generalization, our profession also tends to attract people
> who are on the introverted side and may not be entirely comfortable in the
> limelight. So, what sorts of PR skills can we pick up to raise awareness
> and understanding of what we do and how it underpins the more glamorous (to
> administrators, at least) work of our colleagues in public services?
>
> -Christine
>
>
>
> *Christine Megowan*
>
> *Cataloguing Librarian: Rare Books*
>
> Special Collections and Archives
>
> Arts and Social Studies Library
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>
> *Christine Megowan*
>
> *Llyfrgellydd Catalogio:* *Llyfrau Prin*
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> On Wed, Feb 24, 2021 at 3:04 PM Rich, Allison <allison_rich at brown.edu>
> wrote:
>
>> I would certainly be interested in cataloguing realia as we have a small
>> collection at my library.
>>
>> Conversations between cataloguers and non-cataloguers would also be of
>> interest to me - but beyond that a "demystification" of just what rare
>> materials cataloguers do would be even more interesting. It's a difficult
>> thing to describe to a non-library person and sometimes difficult to
>> justify the cost / effort to clueless administrators. I have often
>> described it as "writing a history essay in machine readable code and text
>> in that if you make a claim you have to back it up with source material
>> from bibliographies or other scholarship" or a form of "inventory control".
>> As this kind of work is becoming, perhaps, more and more rare and we delve
>> further and further into digitization, the importance of good and accurate
>> metadata becomes increasingly important. As yet, AI cannot replace what we
>> do. I think this would be a great topic to discuss.
>>
>> Allison
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 24, 2021 at 9:51 AM Hobart, Elizabeth <efh7 at psu.edu> wrote:
>>
>>> Dear colleagues,
>>>
>>> The Program Planning Group of the RBMS Bibliographic Standards Committee
>>> is investigating the possibility of offering webinars on topics related to
>>> rare materials cataloging. We are still in the early planning stages and
>>> are seeking input from the rare materials cataloging community. Right now,
>>> some of the topics we’re considering include:
>>>
>>>    - Cataloging realia
>>>    - Cataloging graphic novels
>>>    - Tools to make working from home easier (including OpenRefine and
>>>    MarcEdit)
>>>    - Conversations between catalogers and non-catalogers
>>>
>>> We are especially interested in hearing if these topics would be of
>>> interest to you, if there are additional topics we should consider, and any
>>> tools you might like to see covered in addition to OpenRefine and MarcEdit.
>>> If you’re proposing an additional topics, suggestions for presenters would
>>> be welcome but not required.
>>>
>>> Thank you!
>>>
>>> Elizabeth.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Elizabeth Hobart
>>>
>>> Special Collections Cataloging Librarian
>>>
>>> Cataloging & Metadata Services
>>>
>>> 126C Paterno Library
>>>
>>> University Park, PA 16801
>>>
>>> (814) 865-1756
>>>
>>> she/her/hers
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> ********************************
>> "Outside of a dog,
>> a book is probably man's best friend,
>> and inside of a dog,
>> it's too dark to read.
>> - Groucho Marx"
>>
>> Allison Rich
>> Rare Materials Cataloguer
>>
>> ESTC and NACO Coordinator
>>
>> John Carter Brown Library
>> Providence, Rhode Island
>> Allison_Rich at brown.edu
>> ********************************
>>
>>

-- 
********************************
"Outside of a dog,
a book is probably man's best friend,
and inside of a dog,
it's too dark to read.
- Groucho Marx"

Allison Rich
Rare Materials Cataloguer

ESTC and NACO Coordinator

John Carter Brown Library
Providence, Rhode Island
Allison_Rich at brown.edu
********************************
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