Teaching a Cataloging/Metadata Course in a Changing World: Experience and Reflection

• Published in: International Journal of Librarianship
• Main Authors: Suzhen Chen, Margaret Joyce
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chinese American Librarians Association 2019-12-01
• Subjects: Cataloging; Metadata; Information Organization; Library; Library and Information Science; Student
• Online Access: https://journal.calaijol.org/index.php/ijol/article/view/132

In this paper, we explore the most essential knowledge and skills to impart in an introductory-level cataloging and metadata course. We use the basic cataloging and metadata class in the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Library and Information Science Program as a case study, sharing our experiences, thoughts, and planned future direction in teaching cataloging, classification, metadata, and information organization. We investigate what University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Library and Information Science (LIS) students expect to learn from the class, as well as how they perceive knowledge of and skills in cataloging and metadata affecting their career paths. We also inquire into topics that the students are interested in exploring related to cataloging and metadata. We examine emerging trends and evaluate which information and skills are most useful for LIS students and new librarians to learn for their library careers. These ideas are built upon our own experiences teaching these topics. This article synthesizes literature review, observation of trends within cataloging and metadata, and surveys taken by students enrolled in the course.