Scope: This document describes the priorities that Cataloging & Metadata Services staff use when determining which printed items to catalog first.
Contact: Margaret Nichols
Unit: Cataloging & Metadata Services in RMC
Date last updated:
Date of next review: January 2024
General principle: We do not add to the backlog. If a large acquisition temporarily creates a mini-backlog, we eliminate it as quickly as possible.
Priorities
1. New acquisitions
2. Transfers (any that are not handled by LTS Database Quality staff)
3. The pandemic backlog
4. Any mini-backlogs generated by large purchases or gifts, retrospective conversion, etc.
5. Long-term backlog: Priorities across all unprocessed collections whose contents are to be cataloged individually are set in consultation with the Head of Technical Services in RMC. Cataloging priorities within a collection or subject area are set in consultation with the appropriate curator. In the absence of other instructions, follow these priorities:
a. Unprocessed acquisitions
b. Items with no online catalog record, or with a minimal or preliminary record only