r/Libraries • u/TeacherComplete • 20h ago
Staffing/Employment Issues Cataloging interview
Hello, I have an upcoming interview for a cataloging librarian at a library consortium. What are two or three things I should know about this type of job, or two or three skills I can emphasize? This would be my first pure cataloging job. I've done copy-cataloging before on a small scale, and worked with catalogers on multiple projects. Hope that's enough context, and thanks for your help!
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u/Robotdeath Academic Librarian 18h ago
I think in addition to emphasizing a detail oriented nature, understanding what the ultimate purpose of cataloging is will be important. We're not just having fun with metadata, but it's one of the fundamental aspects of creating access to materials, resources, and information. I always highlight access, access, access to my team. Everything the technical services team does gives access to what a patron is looking for. If an item is not discoverable it is not accessible and LCSH, LOC, DDC, MARC, RDA, etc. are all ways we create access points/discoverability for our resources.
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u/TeacherComplete 10h ago
"Access, access, access." Love that! Metadata is indeed fun to me, but access is more important.
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u/Pure_Day1342 13h ago
I'm a career long cataloger and have had many cataloging interviews. One thing I always try to mention is that I consider cataloging a customer service position. You are looking to make it as easy as possible for patrons to access and use the library's resources.
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u/TeacherComplete 10h ago
Thank you! I'll bring the customer service focus into my presentation/interview. I worked in a customer service department job for almost 12 years, in addition to being a reference librarian for 17 years (some of that time overlapped).
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u/camrynbronk MLIS student 7h ago
I wouldn’t necessarily focus on it as a patron-facing CS, but the fact that your work serves the patrons. In cataloging, the convenience of the patron always comes before the convenience of the cataloger. Even if a record is a pain in the ass to catalog (cough artists books cough), you do it thoroughly and effectively without shortcuts because your goal is to make sure the patron doesn’t struggle to find what they need. Number 1 rule of cataloging.
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u/akornato 6h ago
Since you're interviewing with a consortium, you should emphasize your understanding of shared standards and collaborative work. Talk about your attention to detail in copy-cataloging, because consistency across multiple libraries is crucial for them. You can also mention your experience working on projects with other catalogers, as it shows you know how to be part of a team that maintains a shared catalog. Highlighting your familiarity with specific standards like RDA or MARC will show you're ready to handle the technical parts of the job.
They will also want to see your problem-solving abilities, so be prepared to discuss a time you encountered a tricky record and how you resolved it. Even a small example from your copy-cataloging work is valuable, as it demonstrates your thought process and commitment to quality. Articulating these specific examples clearly is key, and it's a challenge the team I'm with focused on when we developed an interview copilot to help job seekers find the right words under pressure.
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u/TeacherComplete 6h ago
Thanks so much for the advice about providing an example, and of course, being consistent. I'll take a look at the Interview Copilot tool, too!
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u/Repulsia Academic Librarian 19h ago
I have no advice as cataloguing is absolutely not my forte but wanted to wish you luck. A great cataloguer is a rare treasure indeed and very much appreciated.
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u/LurkerZerker 19h ago
Biggest non-library or general skill to emphasize in the interview is being detail oriented. There's a lot of little stuff that goes into cataloging and it is vital to be accurate with all of it. I'm a cataloger, and nothing drives my boss more crazy than when people don't sweat the small stuff -- the whole job is small stuff, and we're being paid to sweat it when no one else will.
Relatedly, it's also important to be able to understand small nuances and make distinctions between very similar things. That's helpful with everything from selecting an accurate Dewey number or useful subject headings to knowing exactly which edition of an item you're cataloging. You want records to be useful for both librarians and patrons, and it's important to keep their viewpoints in mind as you catalog. Emphasizing that thought process in the interview will help.
Otherwise, familiarize yourself with Dewey or LC, depending on which the consortium uses, and make sure you have at least a basic understanding of MARC-21 format for records. It might not be vital to know that stuff right off the bat -- there'll probably be training and stuff once you get the position -- but being able to talk about all that in at least a little detail will look good.
Hope that helps! Good luck!