Quality cataloging is, in any library, manuscript repository, or archive, necessary for effective collection development. This is especially true in the area of integrated online systems, but it is equally significant with respect to monographs, serials, and non-print format materials such as are held in many library or archive settings (Morris & Wool, 1999). This report will examine budgetary matters relevant to running a cataloging department. After examining various costs associated with such activities as revealed in the literature, a projected budget for a cataloging department acquiring 5,000 titles per year divided among monographs, serials, and non-print formats will be presented.
Morris, Osmus, and Wool (2000) have stated that staff costs for cataloging have begun to decline at some universities, including Iowa State University where technical service and technological advances are reducing the overriding staffing costs for cataloging activities. Nevertheless, cataloging costs remain an important budgetary item in most libraries (Kotlas, 1997). Small libraries in particular rely heavily upon copy cataloging and many use the Library of Congress online catalog which offers free copy cataloging records, including MARC-format records. Even when free copy cataloging is used, however, Kotlas (1997) maintains that a small library can nevertheless expect to spend valuable resources in terms of financial and human capital on the cataloging function.
Some libraries outsource cataloging activities. McCain and Shorten (2002) conducted a survey of 26 academic libraries and found that some smaller libraries outsource as much as 75 percent of their original cataloging though most libraries tend to outsource much less substantial levels of this activity.
The University of Florida provided some descriptive statistics regarding its cataloging activities. During the past 5 years, the University of Florida (2002) saw ...