Member Community: CaMMS Recruitment & Mentoring Committee

My formal training (MLIS) did include a course in indexing that was a helpful beginning. I needed to learn to write those short and accurate descriptions, knowing when to cut, when to stop. I needed to develop a world perspective, understanding that what I write may be seen by anyone with a command (no matter how tenuous) of English, and my written word needs to be objective and clear. I needed to learn about digital asset management systems, how they work and don’t work. I needed to improve my people skills and learn to work within academic hierarchies. I needed to increase my general knowledge so that more things would be within my ken.

Although I have wanted to be a cataloger since library school, I did not specifically choose the exact job and institution where I am now. The job chose me! During my job search, I discovered that this is where many opportunities appear: in blended positions (part cataloging, part collection management, part access services, part staff management) and at special libraries.

I see cataloging and metadata incorporating special collections description, bulk data management, and collection maintenance. It requires knowledge of detailed cataloging and metadata standards and rules, as well as big-picture environmental awareness to know how the metadata works within your institution as well as externally.