Re: Help! "Elevator speech" for keeping a cataloger

Here are a few talking points.

{ But, whoever this cataloger is and whatever this position is, needs to be
able to change to the current dynamics.
I have little good argument to maintain the little old subject cataloger
that lives in the lower corner office with no additional database
maintenance or management duties.}

Clerical positions generally have tasks and procedures.

Professional Catalogers have principles and philosophies behind their tasks
and procedures.
They bring the weight of traditional practices along with the weight of
traditional principles into the work that they do.  They have a wider vision
of the place the library's databases and catalogs have in the institution
and the world.
And by "traditional": I mean historical and developing traditions.

The Pro Cataloger has a better understanding of the interplay of the various
"discovery" devices - whatever they may be - card catalog or Ipad search
box.
Tasks and procedures can and will constantly change, but principles are
carried and developed over time by those people that have professional level
interest in them.

If properly tasked and hired, the Pro Cataloger is not just a "job" by a
professional integral part of the library management team.

TJP


-----Original Message-----
From: Next generation catalogs for libraries
[mailto:NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Abby Hanks-Danvers
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2011 12:40 PM
To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Subject: [NGC4LIB] Help! "Elevator speech" for keeping a cataloger

Hello all,

Due to a cut in the budget for our library, we are possibly facing the
loss of our cataloger.  My boss is under the impression that this can
be easily outsourced to a clerical level person.  I was wondering if
anyone had any talking points or an "elevator speech" I can give to
her and senior management to possibly change their minds.  I know the
loss of this position would be devastating.


Thanks in advance,

Abby Hanks-Danvers
IT and Technology Librarian
Private Industry
Cincinnati, Ohio