Wrapping up the 2025 Minitex Technical Services Symposium

This year's program theme was "Navigating Uncharted Waters in Technical Services," which featured two plenary panel sessions and eight breakout sessions. The morning panelists discussed their perspectives on artificial intelligence (AI), responsible AI initiatives, and related projects. The closing panel, "Perspectives on the State of Cataloging in Minnesota Libraries," featured five local speakers representing all types of libraries in Minnesota. They discussed current challenges (vendor consolidation, staff attrition, doing more with less staff), opportunities (Open Rules for Cataloging and other collaborations), and bright spots in their work.

The eight breakout sessions elaborated on this theme by exploring and discussing these topics: navigating the transition to open-source, copy and original cataloging workshops, confronting white nationalism in collections, cataloging solo, collaborative approaches to collection management, and AI.

Attendee Takeaways

Here are just a few of the comments left on the evaluations:

• "Start taking note of and discussing how our vendors are using AI and how to maintain and improve my library's leverage with them."
• "It will be used to help improve my cataloging skills."
• "Good refreshers on topics (RDA, AI) that are extremely pertinent to my job and therefore my ability to train other staff and students on cataloging projects."
• "That I am not alone. Other catalogers are going through things similar to what I am and the information at this conference helped me strategize ways to empower myself and my coworkers."
• "TranscribeAI is a revelation and we will be using it immediately."
• "The chance to connect with colleagues is invaluable. I was so excited to see the new exhibit on Julia Child and didn't even make it to the third floor because I had so many great conversations!"
• "I value the opportunity to spend a day with others who: care about beautiful cataloging; know when good enough is what's best; and critically think about the technology that is making its way into libraries."
• "Minitex TSS is my favorite conference to attend! Thanks!"

A special thank you to everyone who had a hand in making the 2025 Technical Services Symposium happen: presenters, engaged attendees, planning committee members, Minitex staff, vendor partners, and symposium volunteers.

*This year's Symposium was partially funded with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education using federal funding, CFDA 84.027A, Special Education - Grants to States.