Aligning education and practice in cataloging and metadata librarianship: Evidence from job descriptions and professional competencies

Cataloging and metadata librarianship continues to evolve as professional responsibilities expand beyond traditional bibliographic description to encompass data management, collaboration, and technical systems work. More recently, the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into metadata workflows has raised new questions about competencies and professional preparation required. This study analyzes cataloging and metadata librarian job descriptions posted between 2020 and 2025, examining changes in job titles, responsibilities, and qualifications, with particular attention to emerging technologies. Findings are compared with publicly available course information of 10 library and information science (LIS) programs and the American Library Association (ALA) Core Competencies for Cataloging and Metadata Professionals to examine how professional education reflects evolving practice.