Roles of cataloguing librarians in the digital era
| Published date | 02 September 2019 |
| Date | 02 September 2019 |
| Pages | 504-516 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-11-2018-0095 |
| Author | Khalfan Zahran Al Hijji,Mohammad Khamis Al-Busaidi |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Roles of cataloguing librarians in
the digital era
Khalfan Zahran Al Hijji
Department of Information Studies, Sultan Qaboos University,
Muscat, Oman, and
Mohammad Khamis Al-Busaidi
Library Department, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
Abstract
Purpose –This study aims to explore the roles and skills of Omani academic cataloguing librarians in
facilitatingaccess to various kinds of traditional and digital informationresources and challenges confronting
them in fulfillingthat task.
Design/methodology/approach –Data for this research were gathered from 37 academic libraries in
the country through a questionnaire sent to their cataloguing librarians. Google Docs format was used for
cumulating and presenting quantitative data, whilst content analysis was utilized for gathering the
qualitativedata in specific themes according to the researchquestions.
Findings –The obvious findings are that Omani academic cataloguers still perform the traditional
cataloguing functions,including copy and original cataloguing, and maintain authorityfiles. Moreover, more
than half of the respondentshave the skills required for working in groups and are familiar with cataloguing
tools such as RDA rules and BIBFRAME. However, cataloguers lack familiaritywith computer languages
(XML, PMH, OAI,RDF) and metadata.
Practical implications –The research concludes with suggestionsto libraries for improving librarians’
skills and performancethrough such as provision of proficient training and establishmentof a collaborative
body.
Originality/value –This research addresses an area of interest to most librarians. However, few
researchersin theauthors’region have focused on this topic. The study, therefore,aims to contribute to filling
this gap through assessing whether cataloguers in Oman have the skills and roles required for organizing
various informationresources in the digital era.
Keywords Electronic publishing, Oman, Cataloging, Electronic resources, Cataloging librarians,
Information organization
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
During the past two decades, the world has witnessed a huge revolution in information
technology and communications, which has been reflected in publishing and accessing
information resources. The shift from the paper-based medium to electronic databases and
websites has led to new trends of information-seeking behaviour amongst researchers
and presented new challenges to academic libraries. Cataloguing librarians in particular
found themselves operating in a hybrid environment comprising both traditional and
technological aspects, which challenged them to perform their duties according to different
conventional and electronictools and new bibliographic control processes. In addition to the
Anglo-American cataloguingrules and lists of subject headings and classification tools that
have been in use for a long period of time, new bibliographic frameworks and applications
have appeared. In the forefront of these are the Resource Description and Access (RDA)
GKMC
68,6/7
504
Received30 November 2018
Revised3 March 2019
Accepted3 March 2019
GlobalKnowledge, Memory and
Communication
Vol.68 No. 6/7, 2019
pp. 504-516
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2514-9342
DOI 10.1108/GKMC-11-2018-0095
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
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