Interviewer
Robert Applegate
Files
Description
Coburn Johnson recalls pursuing a master’s in library science at the University of Denver, where she discovered her affinity for cataloging. Johnson describes her work as a catalog librarian at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library at the University of Montana. She points out that due to the library’s size she could function as a “generalist” and catalog items on a variety of topics rather than specializing in one particular subject area. Johnson discusses the role of catalogers in making information accessible, noting that this work is often underappreciated. She describes her decision to quit her job after she married and had children, later returning to fill a temporary position in 1984. She mentions being the first Equal Employment Opportunity [EEO] hire at the University of Montana in the early 1990s. Johnson discusses the national cataloger organizations in which she participated, and the need for skilled catalogers with the advent of the Internet.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Women in Montana; Maureen and Mansfield Library, University of Montana; Library science; Cataloging; Librarians, University of Montana; Equal Employment Opportunity [EEO]; Catalog librarian; Johnson, Coburn
Original Date
1997
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
University of Montana History Oral History Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 381-001
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (01:00:00 min.) analog + 1 transcript (23 p.: 28 cm.)]
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
00:55:53 minutes
Local Filename
OH_381_001.mp3; OH_381_001.pdf
Citation
Johnson, Coburn, "Coburn "Coby" Johnson Interview, circa 1997" (1997). University of Montana History Oral History Collection. 24.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/umhistory_interviews/24