Cataloguing Remains an Important Skill at Public Libraries in the Modern Metadata Landscape of Norway

Abstract

A Review of:

Preminger, M., Rype, I., Ådland, M.K., Massey, D., & Tallerås, K. (2020). The public library metadata landscape, the case of Norway 2017–2018. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 58(2), 127–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639374.2020.1711836

Abstract

Objective – To understand cataloguing practices in Norwegian public libraries through the analysis of a set of MARC records.

Design – Quantitative content analysis.

Setting – 2 central cataloguing agencies and 49 public libraries in Norway.

Subjects – 21,275 cataloguing agency records and 116,029 public library catalogue records.

Methods – The researchers derived a sample set of MARC records from the central cataloguing agencies and public libraries. Matching records from each agency (i.e., records for the same manifestation catalogued separately at each agency) were compared. Then, MARC records exported from public libraries were compared to matching records from the central agencies.

Main Results – The two central agencies differed in some cataloguing practices while still adhering to the accepted standards. Public libraries made few changes to records imported from central libraries, and among public libraries, larger libraries were more likely to alter agency-derived MARC records.

Conclusion – Current practices indicate that despite the prevalence and efficiency of centralized cataloguing, training in cataloguing remains important in public libraries, particularly in larger libraries.