14 · SPEC Kit 298
About half of the respondents reported that meta-
data activities are distributed across several de-
partments of the library. Several libraries created
temporary term positions to provide additional as-
sistance. A few libraries are in the planning stages
of reorganizing to accommodate metadata activi-
ties.
Metadata Staffing
Nineteen libraries reported that metadata librar-
ians have primary responsibilities for the manage-
ment and coordination of metadata activities in
their organizations. Another 19 answered “Other
librarian ” many of them are the heads of units
such as Cataloging, Digital Programs, and Library
Technology. At ten libraries, a metadata team/com-
mittee/working group plays the leadership role.
Archivists play a primary role at three libraries.
Survey respondents were asked the number of
full-time and part-time positions and total FTEs
for ten different categories of staff who contribute
to metadata-related services. Forty-five respon-
dents reported they have staff working full-time
on metadata activities, most commonly in the po-
sitions of metadata librarian, cataloger, and sup-
port-staff, followed closely by programmer and
archivist. Fifty-two respondents have staff work-
ing part-time on metadata activities. The top four
part-time positions are cataloger, archivist, student
worker, and support staff. There are significantly
more individuals involved on a part-time basis (a
total of 583 reported) than full-time (349 individu-
als). These 932 individuals spend the equivalent to
521.24 hours on metadata activities.
Thirty of 61 responding libraries employ between
one and eight individuals, both part-time and full-
time, for metadata-related activities their total is
148 individuals at 84.5 FTE. The average is 5 in-
dividuals and 2.82 FTE. Thirty others employ be-
tween ten and 68 individuals for a total of 641 indi-
viduals at 368 FTE. Their average is 21 individuals
and 12.26 FTE. The remaining library employs 143
metadata staff at 69 FTE.
Not surprisingly, since more than half of the librar-
ies reported that metadata activities are distributed
across the institution, most respondents rely on a
wide variety of staff to cover metadata operations.
Some recurring combinations of staff include meta-
data librarian(s), cataloger(s), programmer(s), and
support staff archivist(s), programmer(s), support
staff, and students cataloger(s) and support staff
and metadata librarian(s), cataloger(s), archivist(s),
and support staff. The libraries that are managing
digitization projects, digital repositories, data sets,
and Web content have the largest number of staff
and the widest range of staff categories.
Metadata Staff Training
On-the-job training, library school, and profession-
al association-sponsored workshops are among
the top three sources from which metadata staff
received their initial metadata training. The major-
ity of the respondents reported using the follow-
ing opportunities to keep up-to-date on metadata
knowledge and skills: electronic discussion lists,
professional journals and readings, conferences,
discussion with peers, blogs and online readings,
on-the-job training, and professional association-
sponsored workshops. Twenty-four of the respond-
ing libraries hold in-house workshops for initial
staff training and 19 of these also hold workshops
for keeping staff up-to-date. An additional nine
respondents hold workshops to keep staff up-to-
date. Software documentation, subscription-based
online tutorials, and consulting with other institu-
tions provide other learning opportunities.
Metadata staff members from the responding li-
braries attend a wide variety of international, na-
tional, regional, and local conferences and work-
shops on metadata-related topics. Conferences
About half of the respondents reported that meta-
data activities are distributed across several de-
partments of the library. Several libraries created
temporary term positions to provide additional as-
sistance. A few libraries are in the planning stages
of reorganizing to accommodate metadata activi-
ties.
Metadata Staffing
Nineteen libraries reported that metadata librar-
ians have primary responsibilities for the manage-
ment and coordination of metadata activities in
their organizations. Another 19 answered “Other
librarian ” many of them are the heads of units
such as Cataloging, Digital Programs, and Library
Technology. At ten libraries, a metadata team/com-
mittee/working group plays the leadership role.
Archivists play a primary role at three libraries.
Survey respondents were asked the number of
full-time and part-time positions and total FTEs
for ten different categories of staff who contribute
to metadata-related services. Forty-five respon-
dents reported they have staff working full-time
on metadata activities, most commonly in the po-
sitions of metadata librarian, cataloger, and sup-
port-staff, followed closely by programmer and
archivist. Fifty-two respondents have staff work-
ing part-time on metadata activities. The top four
part-time positions are cataloger, archivist, student
worker, and support staff. There are significantly
more individuals involved on a part-time basis (a
total of 583 reported) than full-time (349 individu-
als). These 932 individuals spend the equivalent to
521.24 hours on metadata activities.
Thirty of 61 responding libraries employ between
one and eight individuals, both part-time and full-
time, for metadata-related activities their total is
148 individuals at 84.5 FTE. The average is 5 in-
dividuals and 2.82 FTE. Thirty others employ be-
tween ten and 68 individuals for a total of 641 indi-
viduals at 368 FTE. Their average is 21 individuals
and 12.26 FTE. The remaining library employs 143
metadata staff at 69 FTE.
Not surprisingly, since more than half of the librar-
ies reported that metadata activities are distributed
across the institution, most respondents rely on a
wide variety of staff to cover metadata operations.
Some recurring combinations of staff include meta-
data librarian(s), cataloger(s), programmer(s), and
support staff archivist(s), programmer(s), support
staff, and students cataloger(s) and support staff
and metadata librarian(s), cataloger(s), archivist(s),
and support staff. The libraries that are managing
digitization projects, digital repositories, data sets,
and Web content have the largest number of staff
and the widest range of staff categories.
Metadata Staff Training
On-the-job training, library school, and profession-
al association-sponsored workshops are among
the top three sources from which metadata staff
received their initial metadata training. The major-
ity of the respondents reported using the follow-
ing opportunities to keep up-to-date on metadata
knowledge and skills: electronic discussion lists,
professional journals and readings, conferences,
discussion with peers, blogs and online readings,
on-the-job training, and professional association-
sponsored workshops. Twenty-four of the respond-
ing libraries hold in-house workshops for initial
staff training and 19 of these also hold workshops
for keeping staff up-to-date. An additional nine
respondents hold workshops to keep staff up-to-
date. Software documentation, subscription-based
online tutorials, and consulting with other institu-
tions provide other learning opportunities.
Metadata staff members from the responding li-
braries attend a wide variety of international, na-
tional, regional, and local conferences and work-
shops on metadata-related topics. Conferences
