The Collection Management Team is responsible for organizing, classifying, preserving, and maintaining the materials of the Kean University community. A vital aspect of this process is handled by the Cataloging and Metadata Team, which collaborates closely with the Collection Development and Acquisitions Librarian. This team is tasked with adding new materials to the collection and evaluating which materials should be removed. Additionally, they oversee cataloging for various departments, including the Nancy Thompson Learning Commons, the School of Public Architecture, the Human Rights Institute, the Holocaust Resource Center, and the Special Collections Research Library and Archive.
The Cataloging and Metadata Team currently consists of two part-time Academic Specialists. These specialists are trained librarians with a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree, and they have expertise in cataloging, original cataloging, metadata, and digitization. Their responsibilities include processing new titles, applying relevant metadata, and adding titles to the collection for easier discovery. They also recommend titles for purchase or replacement. Additionally, they identify inconsistencies in the metadata and work to enhance discoverability by improving the quality of the metadata.
The Collection Development and Acquisitions Librarian is responsible for all orders related to expanding the Nancy Thompson Learning Commons Collections. The Collection Development Policy establishes a consistent framework for selecting and deselecting materials in support of the Learning Commons' mission, ensuring responsiveness to users' needs. Additionally, it communicates to library users the scope and nature of current collections and plans for their future development.
