Restructuring the Cataloging Policy Committee to Tackle Backlogs and Support the Strategic Plan

Abstract

In 2018 the University of Washington Libraries revamped its Cataloging Policy Committee, a group that primarily discussed national cataloging policies, into the Cataloging Policy and Practice Committee. The new iteration of the committee now serves as a forum for catalogers and cataloging stakeholders to plan and discuss cataloging work, and to establish and prioritize goals in alignment with the UW Libraries’ new Strategic Plan. A strategic committee membership structure was developed to involve colleagues outside of cataloging on a rotating, project-like basis. This cross-portfolio membership will enable CPPC to play an instrumental role in prioritizing and tackling cataloging backlogs while continuing to develop institutional responses to changes in cataloging and metadata practices. This presentation covers background and catalysts for change, how the committee was restructured to facilitate collaboration and information sharing, and committee initiatives over the past year.