Member Community: Cataloging & Metadata Management Section (CaMMS)

My job is split 50/50 between our Cataloging and Special Collections & Archives departments. In the mornings, I do original cataloging of Special Collections materials (rare books, films, maps, blueprints, cookbooks, you name it). In the afternoons, I work in the cataloging department doing copy and original cataloging of new materials. In addition, I also work on maintaining our ebook records.

One of my most useful skills is the ability to distill complex information into digestible pieces. That combined with my cataloging training enables me to do my job well.

What do I find rewarding in my career? Finding (or creating) the perfect heading for an article; hoping that my work will help people doing research on a specific topic.

Be ready to constantly learn new skills and adapt to changes. Always ask questions and be willing to try new things. Never say “But we’ve always done things this way!” as an excuse to avoid change.

Gain technical skills, since those can give you an edge over job candidates without those skills. Gain an overview by joining relevant email lists and reading blogs and journals. Meet practitioners and talk with them about your interests. Serials work requires a tolerance for ambiguity and an ability to see the whole and the parts. Assess your strengths, aptitudes, and joys: pick a specialty that you can love and the rest will follow.