A comparison of the cataloguing and classification curriculum and job requirements
| Date | 13 August 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-09-2017-0089 |
| Published date | 13 August 2018 |
| Pages | 474-487 |
| Author | Philangani Thembinkosi Sibiya,Mzwandile Muzi Shongwe |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,HR in libraries,Library strategy,Library promotion |
A comparison of the cataloguing
and classification curriculum and
job requirements
Philangani Thembinkosi Sibiya and Mzwandile Muzi Shongwe
Department of Information Studies,
University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, Richards Bay, South Africa
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to compare the cataloguing and classification curriculum offered in
South African LIS schools and the job market requirement for cataloguers in South Africa (SA). It was
instigated by the changes that have occurred in the LIS field over the past decade, especially in cataloguing
and classification.
Design/methodology/approach –An interpretive, qualitative approach was used, and content analysis
was used as a research and data analysis method. Data were obtained from 3 sources: cataloguing and
classification course outlines obtained from 6 LIS schools, 18 interviews conducted with professional
cataloguers and 10 job advertisements obtained through newspaper scanning and from the LIASA listserv.
Findings –The results indicate that LIS schools teach basic and advanced cataloguing and classification
theory and practical topics. The main objective of the courses is to teach students knowledge organisation.
The subjects are offered at bachelor’s degree and postgraduate diploma levels. Tools such as AACR2, RDA,
MARC21, DDC and LCSH are mainly used to teach the courses. Professional cataloguers and job
advertisements indicate that employers require the knowledge and skills to use the above-mentioned tools.
Job advertisements also indicate that a national diploma and two years’work experience are the minimum
requirements for employing cataloguers.
Practical implications –This paper will inform academics whether they are teaching the relevant
curriculum. If not, they will have to implement changes or improvements to the current curriculum. It will also
help employers get a picture of what is offered in LIS schools and make judgements on whether it is relevant
in the job market or not.
Originality/value –This paper has compared what is offered in LIS schools and what is required in the job
market and found that there is match between what is offered and required, although there are areas to be
improved. This is the first paper to establish that link in SA.
Keywords South Africa, Job market, LIS curriculum, Cataloguing and classification, Job requirements,
LIS schools
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Cataloguing and classification are considered the core of librarianship (Bowman, 2009;
Yusuf, 2015; Alajmi and ur Rehman, 2016). This is because a well-catalogued library enables
patrons to identify, locate, retrieve and use library material. Cabonero and Dolendo (2013)
agreed to this assertion and stated that cataloguing is an important process in any library or
information centre because it provides access of all materials to patrons.
Yusuf (2015) defined cataloguing as the description of information materials, whether
monographs, series publications or other non-book materials providing important bibliographic
elements such as the material’s author, title, publisher, place of publication and other block
areas. Bowman (2002) stated that cataloguing could be descriptive or by subject. The former
means describing an item as you see it and the latter meaning assigning subject headings and
classification of items. Several tools are used for cataloguing. They include among others
Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR), Machine Readable Cataloguing (MARC)
standards and Resource Description and Access (RDA), to name but a few.
Batley (2005) stated that classification is a process of grouping together similar things and
imposingsome sort of structureon the materialfor better understanding. Painter(1974) defined
Library Management
Vol. 39 Nos 6/7, 2018
pp. 474-487
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/LM-09-2017-0089
Received 9 September 2017
Revised 16 April 2018
Accepted 16 April 2018
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
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39,6/7
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