The Community of Catalogers: Its Role in the Education of Catalogers

The community of catalogers (defined as “those who work with you”) plays a relatively small role in the formal education process. It plays a greater role in training as new hires talk to their new colleagues, subscribe to electronic discussion lists (especially focused lists such as the Passport for Windows list, LCWeb, AUTOCAT, etc.) and become involved in professional associations, cooperative projects, etc. Its greatest role, however, is in the area of informal continuing education. That is especially true for electronic discussion lists such as AUTOCAT. Such lists fill a gap in the education/training continuum: how to find quick, specific answers to questions when your library lacks either the personnel or print or electronic resources to provide them. They extend the community of catalogers from those who work with you to the entire world