The Effect of Next-Generation Catalogs on Catalogers and Cataloging Functions in Academic Libraries

Next-generation catalogs or discovery tools (NGCs) overlay existing bibliographic data and repackage it in displays that differ from the traditional catalog. Many implementations of NGCs have revealed errors, omissions, or inconsistencies in the underlying data that had not been apparent in the traditional catalog. This study explored the effect of NGCs on cataloging functions and catalogers in academic libraries, examining catalogers’ participation in the selection and implementation processes, identifying and correcting data problems, changes to procedures or workflow, and staffing.