Sprints, marathons, and hurdles

Retrospective cataloguing at The London Library

Warm up

• Thomas Carlyle 1841• Large• Independent• Lending library

Ready, steady, go!

• 3 catalogues• 1991 150th anniversary appeal • 2000 the project begins

sprint: 2000-2006

• Card catalogue• 265,000 vols.• Retro-conversion• A to Z

marathon: 2006-?

• Printed catalogue • 550,000 vols.• 2007 a new start• Retro-cataloguing• Thematic

hurdles: 2007-2008

• New methodology• Name changes

• Perception

hurdles: 2009-2010

• Building works• Gift Aid• Perception -still

hurdles: 2011-2012

• New structure• New workflows• Shelfmarks• Promotion• COPAC• Designation

hurdles: 2013-2015

• Shelfmarks again!• Knowledge management• New standards• New discovery tool

Keep on running, walking or crawling!

• Tracking• Flexibility• Motivation • Perseverance

Thank you

dunia.garcia-ontiveros@londonlibrary.co.uk