# Presentation: 403839

## The Brick Wall:  Recruiting People to a Career in Cataloging

- ALCTS/CCS/CETRC Preconference
- Catholic University, June 22, 2007
- Janet Swan Hill
- Associate Director for Technical Services
- University of Colorado Libraries, Boulder

## WHY IS IT HARD TO GET PEOPLE INTO CATALOGING?

- We are invisible
- In the common view, librarianship = reference
- The disciplines that people come from may not be the richest sources of prospective catalogers
- Career guidance is off target
- Women have more career choices than in the past

## WHY IS IT HARD TO GET PEOPLE INTO CATALOGING?

- IN LIBRARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS
- The cataloging-related curriculum is limited
- Cataloging is not a requirement at many programs
- Coursework may not include actual cataloging
- Many faculty convey an inaccurate message about cataloging
- Cataloging faculty are in the minority

## WHY IS IT HARD TO GET PEOPLE INTO CATALOGING?

- The impact of automation is overestimated
- The jobs sound dull
- The jobs sound old fashioned

## WHAT CAN WE DO?

- We are invisible;
- In the common view, librarianship = reference
- Cultural issues are difficult to address
- Our recruitment energies may better engaged elsewhere

## WHAT CAN WE DO?

- The disciplines that people come from may not be the best for prospective catalogers
- Move from passive to proactive recruitment
- Target undergraduates and graduate students in their major departments
- Target teaching faculty in their own departments
- Provide a recruitment kit tailored for these efforts
- Develop a recruitment pool and program
- Involve LIS faculty on their own campuses

## WHAT CAN WE DO?

- Career guidance is off-target
- Identify common career guidance instruments
- Ascertain if cataloging and the characteristics of catalogers are part of the instruments
- Need the support and backing of an association
- Women have more career choices
- Not a “problem” *per se*
- Our recruitment energies are better engaged elsewhere.

## WHAT CAN WE DO?

- The cataloging-related curriculum is limited
- Cataloging is not a requirement in many programs
- Cooperatively develop basic cataloging competencies that all new librarians, and all new cataloging librarians should have
- Require cataloging of all LIS students
- Pay attention to the accreditation standards revision process

## WHAT CAN WE DO?

- Coursework may not include cataloging
- Cataloging is difficult to imagine:  It must be experienced
- Cataloging courses must include actual practice
- Practitioners can assist as guests
- Host internships and practica
- CETRC/ALCTS could provide guidelines
- Paraprofessional, student, and volunteer work experience is in effect a practicum

## WHAT CAN WE DO?

- Cataloging faculty are in the minority
- Full time faculty control the curriculum and direction of the program, and serve as advisors
- Find a way for adjunct faculty to have a substantive voice in the faculty when it comes to cataloging
- Increasing numbers of qualified cataloging specialists is beyond the scope of this presentation, but is a concern

## WHAT CAN WE DO?

- Many faculty convey an inaccurate message about cataloging
- LIS faculty must help colleagues recognize the new realities of cataloging and the continued need for catalogers
- LIS faculty must help colleagues understand the impact of dismissive comment
- LIS faculty of all specializations can be part of the recruitment/guidance effort

## WHAT CAN WE DO?

- The impact of automation is overestimated
- Need a clear understanding of actual impact
- Need a clear, realistic, and non-defensive message

## WHAT CAN WE DO?

- The jobs sound dull and old-fashioned; They may BE dull
- Describe the entire job in ads and recruiting material
- Use up-to-date and accessible language
- Examine and modify jobs to provide variety, interest, responsibility, future

## ABOUT THE BRICK WALL

- We can accept it as an immovable boundary
- We can beat our heads against it
- We can dismantle it brick by brick
- We can re-use the bricks to build a path