Peer review of problems also is a method of providing some evaluation. Setting quotas is problematic and many institutions try to steer away from them. Those with quotas have them based on the number of items completed per hour or the turn around time. Compared to ten years ago, there are fewer individual quotas and more are based on team goals. Statistical anomalies can be explained by special projects, the number of people in training, time off, and system problems.
Participants believe that cataloging does have a future.
There always will be material that needs cataloging or some human touch in processing. Areas for future attention and development include the added value of what we do, cataloging grey literature, material from independent presses and rare materials, and the organizing of Internet resources. The group also discussed authority processing. Issues included pre-cataloging vs. post cataloging authority work, keeping up with reports, and developing procedures for handling loaded records. Recorders were Mary Monson and Sherry Wadham.