Metadata Interest Group Program, Sunday July 12, 2009, 8-10 AM
Metadata Librarians Today: Roles and Competencies
Myung-Ja Han, Assistant Professor and Metadata Librarian, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Patricia Hswe, Project Manager for NDIIPP Partner Projects, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Powerpoint presentation
The study examined position descriptions for catalog librarians and metadata librarians from 2000-2008. It looked at job descriptions for both metadata librarian and cataloging librarian positions, focusing on preferred and required qualifications.
It asked the following research questions:
- What is the required skill set in the position descriptions?
- What changes/differences can be detected over the time period of the study?
- What are differences between cataloging librarians and metadata librarians with regard to qualifications?
Review of the literature indicated that professional catalog librarians are involved in instruction and training, database management, and developing standards for cataloging. Catalog librarians need to know about mark up language and schemas The first position with title “metadata librarian” appeared in late 1990s, probably because of increased non-book resources and libraries trying to provide access to them. Four key functions of metadata librarians are collaboration, research, education, standards development.
Position descriptions were analyzed with an Excel spreadsheet. Some interesting findings:
- The number of metadata librarian positions increasing, while cataloging librarian positions decreasing
- Most jobs are in research universities and in technical services departments
- Job titles for “metadata librarians”: 21 different titles with term “metadata”; 48 of 86 had title “metadata librarian”;
Recent surge in “metadata” appearing in title - Catalog librarians position descriptions demonstrates shift in responsibility from original cataloging to coordinating descriptive activities
- 96% of metadata librarian positions called for MLS degree (many allowed equivalent), compared to 100% of cataloging librarian positions requiring MLS.
- Competencies for metadata librarians included knowledge of metadata standards (MARC most common, then Dublin Core), XML, knowing OAI and managing OAI provider.
- Cataloging librarian positions emphasized foreign languages, cataloging standards, bibliographic utilities, and cataloging experience. There was less emphasis on computers and XML.
- There was a broader range of knowledge and experiences required for metadata librarians.
- For work-related skills, metadata and cataloging librarian positions are almost the same: good communication, team environment, but “Willingness to Learn” only appeared in Metadata librarian positions
- Desired qualifications for Metadata librarian positions included data exchange protocols, xml, xslt
- Desired qualifications for both types of positions mirrored the required qualifications of the other type of position. Metadata librarian positions requested knowledge of foreign language and knowledge of bibliographic utilities, while cataloging librarian positions requested familiarity with metadata standards and non-book format cataloging.
Questions for future study:
- Is the metadata librarian position replacing the cataloging librarian position or is it a new position?
- What are the metadata librarian’s responsibilities?
- How does LIS education evolve to meet changing requirements?
- Do the requirements for the position vary by the size of the staff of the institution?
- Do requirements change if the positions is for a fixed term or permanent?
Discussion of Qualifications for Metadata Librarians
After the presentation a discussion of qualifications and LIS education was led by Steve Miller, Senior Lecturer, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee School of Information Studies.
Question: Where did people learn the skills they needed for their position?
- Many people said they began their career as a cataloger and moved into position. They learned by taking workshops, reading, talking to colleagues, and learning project management.
- Self-training
- Working in digital initiatives while going to school, or taking internships in digital projects. Important skills learned:
- * Connecting the metadata design to the systems design
- * Knowing what the features of the element set needs to be included
- Having the “ability to learn”
- Taking computer science classes at grad school: digital publishing, xml.
- Certificate in web design through community college
- Workshop on data curation
- Taking classes in MLS program at Drexel
Some other thoughts:
- It’s challenging to identify opportunities for professional development while balancing needs of the local institution and the need to share metadata outside of the organization
- Most people moved into metadata from something else: cataloging, programming, or digital initiatives.
- Does the age of the librarian affected how he/she has approached the job?
- Institutions are interested in bringing into new and adaptable people into the library—thinking about the big picture and how things are changing.
- The liaison role for manager-style metadata librarians is absolutely key
- Project management skills are needed by metadata librarians
- Should metadata librarian be a manager or a practitioner?
- * The room was evenly split between manager-styles jobs and practitioner-style jobs
- Metadata librarians have to be diplomatic about stepping on someone else’s territory.
What did you learn in your MLIS program?
- Practicums and work experience were stressed over formal classes. Rutgers offers a practicum where students have a chance to work on digital production from start to finish—-selection, scanning, metadata, quality control, publishing—-this is seen as particularly valuable
- There is the need to combine formal education with practical experience to allow students to understand the application of what they are learning.
- There needs to be more opportunities to use tools and learn metadata skills.
- Metadata standards class and systems analysis class provide a good background.
- Keep classes with a user focus
- Grant writing experiences
The program concluded with a business meeting.
Notes by Kristin Martin