[Web4lib] Interesting article about the future of the librarycatalog

[Lin Light]

What if we had a bib record that didn't dwell so much on the physical
description and had an expanded 520 field where the details of the contents
would take the place of some of these arcane subject headings. Many of use
only to those specializing on that subject. 
Oh by the way, I'm head of Technical and Automated Services.
Oh blasphemer me.

Lin

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of B.G. Sloan
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 2:16 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org; lita-l at ala.org
Subject: [Web4lib] Interesting article about the future of the
librarycatalog

 
  Coyle, Karen, and Diane Hillman. Resource Description and Access (RDA):
Cataloging Rules for the 20th Century. D-Lib Magazine, 13(1/2).
January/February 2007.
  http://www.dlib.org/dlib/january07/coyle/01coyle.html 
   
  The subtitle is maybe a little too subtle. :-)
   
  Abstract:
   
  "There is evidence that many individuals and organizations in the library
world do not support the work taking place to develop a next generation of
the library cataloging rules. The authors describe the tensions existing
between those advocating an incremental change to cataloging process and
others who desire a bolder library entry into the digital era."
   
  An excerpt:
   
  "Libraries have lost their place as primary information providers,
surpassed by more agile (and in many cases wealthier) purveyors of digital
information delivery services...[T]he library's approach to user service and
the user interface is not competing successfully against services like
Amazon or Google...[L]ibrarians need to undertake a broad analysis of how
the changing information technology and our rapidly evolving information
resources are changing user behavior. The goal of that analysis should be to
mold the user service of the future, recognizing that users and their
information needs should be our primary focus. This will mean that our
vision of the catalog and of cataloging must make a radical transformation."
   
  Bernie Sloan

 
---------------------------------
It's here! Your new message!
Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar.
_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4lib at webjunction.org
http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/