MOUG 2025 - New Job, New ILS - Sexton
New Job, New ILS: Learning Cataloging Strategies and Priorities
Tarren Sexton, Interlochen Center for the Arts
From the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Music OCLC Users Group, March 6 & 7, 2025
When starting my first librarian job after finishing my MLS it was a big leap from one ILS (SirsiDynix WorkFlows) to another, completely different ILS (Koha). While also learning a new system, I was also the only person in our library that had any experience with original cataloging, meaning I had to be the point person for any cataloging or Koha-related questions. I was given essentially full control over the cataloging end of the ILS with my “super librarian” permission level, meaning I could enact changes I wanted to see in the catalog and fulfill the metadata needs of our patrons. This presentation discusses strategies for learning a new system, as well as how to prioritize what metadata needs are required to meet the needs of your stakeholders when starting a new position.