Presentation given for the Core Competencies and Education for a Career in Cataloging Interest Group at ALA Core Interest Group Week.
Abstract
Professional development offerings for cataloging and metadata practitioners primarily focus on “rules and tools”—the standards, guidelines, and software applications commonly used in the field. These areas of knowledge are important and foundational, but professionals also need competence in synthesizing this information to solve metadata problems. In this presentation, I will explore design epistemology as a way of understanding metadata management. I will apply design concepts and methods to reimagine metadata training and provide suggestions for on-the-job training approaches that support the development of these harder-to-teach skills.