What Role Does 443/543 Play in the LIBM Program?
LIBM 443/543, “Cataloging and Classification” is the only course in the LIBM Program covering technical services (TS) work in libraries. Even if TS work is not in your job description or future plans as a teacher and/or librarian, every librarian has a vested interest in understanding “what makes the OPAC work”, given that it is the link between patrons and materials. Technical services (as opposed to library or educational technology – which is covered in ED 431), refers mostly to the behind-the-scenes work at libraries: dealing with the ordering, processing, cataloging, security features, and database work with the OPAC (online public access catalog). While technology is obviously used in cataloging and your library OPAC, educational technology is a related subject. We will focus on the core of TS work, cataloging, not the other tech-services fields. There are many institutions in North America granting library and/or information science graduate degrees, not requiring students to ta
