Unchartered cells

cataloguing with Excel in Covid and beyond

Abstract

Cataloguer training takes time, patience and a lot of learning – from different standards and procedures depending on the material to grappling with different Library Management Systems and all the jargon associated.
When Covid hit, the recently digitised collection of HMSO catalogues became an ideal working from home project. Each listing had adequate information to make a catalogue record to allow these partially hidden items to be discoverable. The problem was that cataloguers at the National Library of Scotland only had their personal devices to begin with and no access to our usual software. Plus, work was also required for Library staff who were not trained cataloguers.
The solution – Excel spreadsheets. A friendly and familiar format where data entered in an organised fashion could then be imported into Alma (our Library Management System) to make items available. Users would be able to create Metadata quickly with minimal training and no knowledge required about MARC or RDA standards.
What started as a Covid solution has now become common place for specific routine metadata projects for staff without in-depth cataloguing training.