hi,
now my feelings are hurt! i really do not see any rational reason
why one class of cataloger users should be singled out as less
significant than any other class. if i must use the catalog for
8 hours per day in order to execute my job responsbilities, how
is that any less significant than say a high school student
consulting the catalog for a term paper, a journalist consulting
the catalog to do her/his job (write an article), the lawyer consulting
the catalog to do his job (research the background on a civil suit),
etc. etc. etc.
this is down right prejudice against us unfortunate, poorly paid
catalogers...
please have pity,
--ralph papakhian
On Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:00:08 -0400, Jonathan Rochkind <rochkind_at_JHU.EDU> wrote:
>Well, I guess I don't neccesarily agree.
>
>Certainly if catalogers job is important (and it is), then we should
>make sure we have tools in place that allow them to do their job well
>and efficiently.
>
>But since the primary purpose of the catalog, the reason catalogers
>create the catalog, is in fact for our patrons/users (and their agents,
>such as reference librarians) to find what they're looking for---then I
>will controversially argue that it is much much more important when
>designing and structuring the catalog to meet these users needs, the
>users who the catalog actually exists for, then to meet catalogers
>needs. The number of minutes catalogers spend using the catalog is
>irrelevant to me in making this determination. What matter is the
>mission of the catalog in the first place, and the mission of the
>catalog is not to serve catalogers.
>
>Jonathan
Received on Mon Sep 17 2007 - 15:00:27 EDT