katalogista

A katalogista is a professional who prepares and maintains catalogs of collections, such as books, artworks, artefacts, or digital records. The term is used in several languages to designate a cataloger or cataloging specialist. In libraries and archives, katalogistas are responsible for creating bibliographic records, applying classification and subject headings, and linking records to authority files to ensure consistency across catalogs. They work with metadata standards, such as MARC, Dublin Core, or RDF, and with cataloging rules, such as RDA or MARC guidelines. In museums and archives, katalogistas create catalog entries for objects, manage provenance data, and assist researchers by providing searchable access points.

Their duties often include language processing, data quality control, digitization workflows, and collaboration with librarians, curators, researchers, and IT staff. Essential skills include attention to detail, knowledge of classification systems, understanding of metadata schemas, and proficiency with cataloging software and database management.

The term derives from the word catalog and the agent suffix -ista, reflecting a professional role focused on catalog creation and maintenance. While usage varies by country and language, the katalogista generally denotes a cataloging specialist within libraries, archives, museums, or digital repositories.