Library of Congress merges Acquisition and Cataloging

Library of Congress News Release on Nov 13, 2008 announced that Acquisition and Cataloging were merged and formed into a new unit-Ac Acquisitions and Bibliographic Access Directorate. "The new organizational structure--the Acquisitions and Bibliographic Access Directorate (ABA)--fully merges acquisitions and cataloging functions, streamlines workflows and deploys staff to take advantage of their unique language and subject skills," said ABA Director Beacher Wiggins. He noted that the new organization will be better designed and staffed to acquire new digital materials, which will be processed in the same work units as collections in printed and other formats. A footnote: LC predicted loss of 50% of technical services staff next 5-10 years.