Seeking out collective wisdom: cataloguers’ use of social media
| Date | 30 September 2014 |
| Pages | 670-687 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-10-2012-0138 |
| Published date | 30 September 2014 |
| Author | Bridgit Siddall,Chern Li Liew |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology |
Seeking out collective wisdom:
cataloguers’ use of social media
Bridgit Siddall
Research Resources, Parliamentary Library, Wellington, New Zealand, and
Chern Li Liew
School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington,
Wellington, New Zealand
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the frequency with which Internet-based social
media (namely, wikis, blogs, forums and electronic mailing lists) are used by cataloguers to seek what
Judith Hopkins (2002) denes as “specic (and immediate) current awareness” and “general current
awareness”. The aim is to provide some insight into whether social media play a part in day-to-day
practice and on-the-job learning of cataloguers.
Design/methodology/approach – A survey research was conducted. An online questionnaire was
made available to self-selecting respondents via electronic mailing lists (AUTOCAT, CatSIG listserv,
NZLibs listserv) and 176 responses were received.
Findings – The study found that general current awareness information was more frequently sought
via Internet-based social media than specic (and immediate) current awareness. A statistically
signicant, weak positive correlation was found between the variables of “number of cataloguers
working in an organization” and “frequency of accessing social media to seek out cataloguing-specic
information”. A weak positive correlation was also found within the sample between the variables of
“number of cataloguers working in an organization” and “frequency of accessing social media to seek
general current awareness information”. Qualitative data were also gathered concerning the reasons
respondents sought both specic and general current awareness information.
Originality/value – This research examines the assumption that cataloguers use social media tools to
access what Hopkins has dubbed a “community of cataloguers” as one means of accessing informal
continuing education.
Keywords Social media, Cataloguers
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Cataloguers require special knowledge that realistically cannot be covered by any
library and information studies programme. A number of authors have discussed the
role of social media (specically blogs, wikis, forums and electronic mailing lists) in
allowing cataloguers to tap into the collective knowledge of their online peers, providing
the opportunity for informal further education (Farkas, 2007;Hill, 2002;Hopkins, 2002).
This study is concerned with the use or non-use of these tools by cataloguers to seek
answers to cataloguing-specic problems. The aim is to provide some insight into
whether social media play a part in day-to-day practice and on-the-job learning of
cataloguers.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
EL
32,5
670
Received 26 October 2012
Revised 15 January 2013
Accepted 23 January 2013
The Electronic Library
Vol. 32 No. 5, 2014
pp. 670-687
© Emerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/EL-10-2012-0138
Literature review
Cataloguing education and further education
The role of cataloguing education in preparing cataloguers for the workforce is a topic
much canvassed by cataloguers and researchers. One focus of the literature is the shift
in information science (IS) and library and information science (LIS) programmes from
a practical to a more theoretical approach to teaching cataloguing. Hider (2006)
suggested one reason for this shift is the unwieldiness of preparing students for every
practical issue they may come across when cataloguing in their institutions.
Alternatively, Dull (2011, p. 118) stated:
[…] that [those] who hire our graduates […] would much rather have employees who have a
grounding in theory because this is the kind of grounding you need in a world that has so many
changes in store.
Certainly, it is the contention of many that cataloguing courses in general are declining
in number (Bowman, 2005;Hill, 2002;Hopkins, 2002;Howarth, 2000).
Often raised in conjunction with the issue of cataloguing education is training of
new graduates, which includes discussion of in-house training schemes or
mentoring (Bangalore and Zhao, 2002;Hider, 2006). Howard (2011, p. 10), in her
article “Learning to catalogue in 2010-11”, referred to the further education role of
both immediate colleagues and those online on her cataloguing education and
training, stating:
There is independent theoretical study, on-the-job practical training, and independent work.
Though the last stage is theoretically independent, in reality it still involves a great deal of
discussion and working with others in person or via listservs.
Of course, training is not just limited to in-house and mentoring options, nor is it limited
to new graduates. Literature looking at the role of cataloguing training – those run by
private companies or professional associations in providing further education for both
new graduates and cataloguers wishing to up-skill – reects not only the needs of new
graduates, but also the reality of the cataloguing world as a place where professionals
must keep up-to-date with changes on a global scale (Howarth, 2000;Khurshid, 2005;
Omekwu, 2008). Omekwu (2008) placed the emphasis for up-dating skills on the
individual with some support from professional associations, which leads to the
question: How do individuals go about acquiring or updating these skills if they work
alone (with no colleagues to offer their experience as mentors or in-house trainers) or do
not have access to external training opportunities (due to funding restrictions or scarcity
of training options)?
The role of a community of cataloguers in informal further education
For many, the need to access cataloguers with experience and knowledge of new
developments in cataloguing practice is met by an online community of cataloguers.
Hopkins (2002) focused on the role of a community of cataloguers with reference to the
use of technology for communication; specically, electronic discussion lists, websites
and blogs. She argued that a cataloguer’s immediate colleagues as sources of
information and further education have, through technology, been expanded to an
international network of cataloguers.
671
Seeking out
collective
wisdom
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