The link between cataloguing and classification curricula and job requirements in South Africa
type: CreativeWork
description: This study investigated the link between cataloguing and classification curricula and the cataloguing and classification job requirements in South Africa. This is necessary because it is not known whether Library and Information Science (LIS) schools teach what the South Africa LIS job market requires. In order to determine whether the cataloguing and classification curricula meet the requirements of employers, cataloguing and classification course outlines were requested and received from six LIS schools. Ten cataloguing and classification advertisements for vacant posts were taken from two weekly newspapers (Sunday Times and Mail & Guardian) and the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) listserv. A total of 18 professional cataloguers and classifiers from public and academic libraries were involved in the study, which was informed by the interpretive paradigm, while a qualitative research approach was adopted. Qualitative content analysis was used as a research method and for data analysis. A content analysis schedule for the course outlines and professional vacancy advertisements were designed for data collection purposes. An interview schedule was also designed for data collection from professional cataloguers. The results indicate that cataloguing and classification is offered at the bachelor’s degree and postgraduate diploma levels in LIS schools in South Africa, but it is noted that it is also offered at an undergraduate diploma level. No course outlines were provided by LIS schools teaching the courses at diploma level. Cataloguing and classification courses aim to equip students with knowledge on how to organise information in a library environment. The outcomes of these courses are based on the contents offered by LIS schools. In a nutshell, upon completion of these courses students are expected to use both traditional and techno centric methods to organise information materials. Cataloguing and classification contents include AACR2, …
abstract: This study investigated the link between cataloguing and classification curricula and the cataloguing and classification job requirements in South Africa. This is necessary because it is not known whether Library and Information Science (LIS) schools teach what the South Africa LIS job market requires. In order to determine whether the cataloguing and classification curricula meet the requirements of employers, cataloguing and classification course outlines were requested and received from six LIS schools. Ten cataloguing and classification advertisements for vacant posts were taken from two weekly newspapers (Sunday Times and Mail & Guardian) and the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) listserv. A total of 18 professional cataloguers and classifiers from public and academic libraries were involved in the study, which was informed by the interpretive paradigm, while a qualitative research approach was adopted. Qualitative content analysis was used as a research method and for data analysis. A content analysis schedule for the course outlines and professional vacancy advertisements were designed for data collection purposes. An interview schedule was also designed for data collection from professional cataloguers. The results indicate that cataloguing and classification is offered at the bachelor’s degree and postgraduate diploma levels in LIS schools in South Africa, but it is noted that it is also offered at an undergraduate diploma level. No course outlines were provided by LIS schools teaching the courses at diploma level. Cataloguing and classification courses aim to equip students with knowledge on how to organise information in a library environment. The outcomes of these courses are based on the contents offered by LIS schools. In a nutshell, upon completion of these courses students are expected to use both traditional and techno centric methods to organise information materials. Cataloguing and classification contents include AACR2, …
author: Sibiya, Philangani Thembinkosi
keywords: cataloguing --classification --curriculum --employment --South Africa
license: https://devspace.unizulu.ac.za/bitstreams/5d56d738-fe6e-4c1d-89f1-62d8db712b8a/download
date published: 2017
date modified: 2026-07-24T06:16:53Z
provider: University of Zululand
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Zululand