Emerging technology needs to be addressed when discussing cataloging as we are this week in class.
I recently came across this speech given by Deanna B. Marcum, Associate Librarian for Library Services Library of Congress at the Ebsco Leadership Seminar Boston, Massachusetts January 16, 2005. ttp://www.loc.gov/library/reports/CatalogingSpeech.pdf
In her speech of 4 years ago, Ms. Marcum discusses the growing trend toward using metasearch engines like Google and Yahoo for researching information. She asked her audience what direction library cataloging should head with the emergence of new online applications. She mentions the announcement by Google who began working with Universities to offer a way to search scholarly literature. The result today is Google Scholar. Her concern was how to adapt the metadata stating, "Cataloging now involves identifying metadata that already exist and taking advantage of existing description and access points. Different approaches are needed depending on whether resources are archived or linked and how long they will last. New hybrid systems take advantage of traditional library catalog information along with abstracting and indexing tools and online reference tools." There have been adaptations in cataloging occurring since this speech of course.
Through our reading assignment from Catalog it! A Guide to Cataloging School Media Materials (2nd edition) by Allison Kaplan and Ann Riedling, I found how important such cataloging systems as the Library of Congress are in organizing library collections throughout the United States and the world. The importance of having an accurate record in place for patrons/students to have easy access to relevant research information in imperative to the future of libraries with adaptations to changing internet technology. Most students would say they research data through sites like Google, Dog Pile and Wikipedia because the information is found quicker and easier than through a library catalog. In truth, although Google, Alta Vista and other search engines give them quick information, that information is not always relevant to the subject being searched and often comes with commercial advertisements, forcing people to search the search results for the relevant links. In the end, the "quick search" doesn't very happen quickly at all. Yet students still choose metasearch engines first. Why? Because they are easy to use. Libraries are still key to providing relevant and commercial-free information. Training by librarians and educators in proper researching is key for effective students learning. And accurate, detailed and consistent cataloging is essential for making those libraries the more logical place for finding the information they need quickly and effectively.
