Location
Libraries 108
Start Date
19-5-2023 10:15 AM
End Date
19-5-2023 11:05 AM
Description
Technical Services in libraries has been undergoing changes in the past ten years and Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is no exception. Changes in technology, processes, and attrition in staffing have been just a few of the reasons for this significant change. University Libraries (UL) at BGSU has recently made a change in its organizational structure that has been affected by some of these factors. Previously, our Technical Services area included numerous classified staff catalogers, a head of cataloging, head of serials, head of acquisitions, an e-resources librarian, and several other support staff members to assist with processing and cataloging of our main stacks collection and Special Collections (SC) materials. As of 2023, UL will have one faculty catalog librarian and one classified staff cataloger for the main stacks and to assist with Special Collections cataloging. Other technical services duties (acquisitions, serials, etc.) have been transferred to other staff and there will no longer be a Technical Services Department. While there are other professional faculty catalogers in the SC, none of them can take on additional main stacks’ duties on a permanent basis. This change has affected all UL departments and will have a significant impact on our upcoming transition to a new ILS system. I plan to provide the steps made in the reorganization process, the challenges and opportunities, and our hopes for the future of Technical Services duties in the UL.
Included in
Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Library and Information Science Commons
Time to Get Technical about Technical Services: Reorganizing Technical Services at Bowling Green State University
Libraries 108
Technical Services in libraries has been undergoing changes in the past ten years and Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is no exception. Changes in technology, processes, and attrition in staffing have been just a few of the reasons for this significant change. University Libraries (UL) at BGSU has recently made a change in its organizational structure that has been affected by some of these factors. Previously, our Technical Services area included numerous classified staff catalogers, a head of cataloging, head of serials, head of acquisitions, an e-resources librarian, and several other support staff members to assist with processing and cataloging of our main stacks collection and Special Collections (SC) materials. As of 2023, UL will have one faculty catalog librarian and one classified staff cataloger for the main stacks and to assist with Special Collections cataloging. Other technical services duties (acquisitions, serials, etc.) have been transferred to other staff and there will no longer be a Technical Services Department. While there are other professional faculty catalogers in the SC, none of them can take on additional main stacks’ duties on a permanent basis. This change has affected all UL departments and will have a significant impact on our upcoming transition to a new ILS system. I plan to provide the steps made in the reorganization process, the challenges and opportunities, and our hopes for the future of Technical Services duties in the UL.