编目员成为数字图书馆员

      一直以来,觉得编目属于图书馆中的夕阳产业。在中小型图书馆,有了书商随书配书目记录,编目员几无用武之地。在大中型图书馆,有了联机联合编目,大部分编目员80%以上的工作是套录。缺少原始编目,编目员地位也就大不如前。如果再引入编目、加工外包,那就根本没有编目员的饭碗了。这是个全球性的现象,不独中国才有。
      今天看到OCLC Systems & Services(2004,v.20, no.4)上有一篇给编目员打气的文章: Crashing the party: catalogers as digital librarians。作者Christine DeZelar-Tiedman认为编目员具有数字图书馆建设所需的独特的经验和技能,鼓励编目员积极投身数字图书馆项目建设。
      看来编目工作的地位真是无法挽回了。不过,能到更”朝阳”的地方讨口饭吃,总算做编目的还不至于有朝一日流落街头。
      可惜无法看到全文,附文摘
Catalog librarians have been slow to take an active role in the development and execution of digital library projects. Catalogers have a unique combination of experience and skills that would be valuable in the digital library world. Catalogers are encouraged to take the initiative to overcome stereotypes and their own fears in order to become active partners and collaborators. Suggestions are given for initial steps to take in order to move into the digital library arena.