SP10Q4

Spring 2010 Question 4 / Spring 2011 Question 5
The pace of change seems to increase relentlessly, especially change involving information technology. User generation of content has become the "norm" in many information environments. In order to meet changing nature of user expectations, libraries or information centers are taking measures to provide collections and services that are more user-centered. a) Discuss issues and challenges involved in using controlled vocabulary to organize and represent items in collections vis-à-vis user tagging of such items. b) What is the future of controlled vocabulary as a practice for providing a standardized or structured representation of items in collections? c) Should catalogers continue to use controlled vocabulary? If yes, how will they meet the evolving expectations of user information needs in the digital environment?

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