NOTE: As of Oct. 1 2024, the Cataloging & Metadata Services division (CAMS) has merged with the Collections Acquisitions and Description division (CAD) to form the Collections Acquisition & Metadata Services division (CAMS).

 

Cataloging at Columbia University Libraries

Cataloging at Columbia University Libraries falls within the Collections Group. The Group reports to the Associate University Librarian for Collections. We are functionally divided into three divisions and one offsite facility, with the common mission of providing timely and effective bibliographic control for materials acquired by the Libraries.

 

Original and copy cataloging occurs in the following areas:
  • The Collection Acquisition and Description Division (CAD) handles most copy cataloging, some original cataloging, and monographic ordering and receiving.
  • The Cataloging and Metadata Services Division (CAMS) provides specialized original cataloging and some copy cataloging for all formats and has responsibility for bibliographic projects and metadata coordination for digital collections.

     

The following units are concerned with other aspects of bibliographic control:
  • The Collection Strategies Division develops and manages policies for library collections and allocates and oversees the materials budget. Collection Strategies staff also manage Columbia's electronic collections. For more about Collection Strategies, please visit its Behind the Scenes site.
  • The Research Collections and Preservation facility (ReCAP) is Columbia University Libraries' offsite shelving facility.  For more about ReCAP, please visit its Behind the Scenes site.

 

CLIO Open Data

In an effort to further support the wide variety of research and experimentation happening around open library data, the Columbia University Libraries has made our catalog data open and available for download.

Links to downloads and additional information can be found on the CLIO Open Data site.

 

 

 

 

Additional Resources:

Reparative and Inclusive Description Initiatives

Cataloger Language Expertise

Technically Speaking (CUL Technical Services Librarians Blog)

RDA Wiki (Columbia)