Just what does usage mean? And how does it relate to value? Is there a fair way to ascertain the value of resources? In regards to library resources, “use” can simply be an arbitrary quantitative concept. Knowing that searches and sessions are considered input measures while result clicks and views are output measures helps the process. With electronic resources, we parse our usage statistics (when we can get them) to arrive at a cost per use, and define whether that use is a view, a printout, or a download. Of course, there are discrepancies as we examine different e-resources; for instance, cost-per-use can be very different with e-books—the definition of a “section” varies from vendor to vendor, and vendors' attempts to limit mass downloading mean that some e-book titles have page number limits with no correlation to chapter length. Analysis of usage data and other qualitative measures as part of a systematic review of current and potential e-resources highlights underutilized resources, access issues,...

Tips from the trenches

This case study is based on a 1998 sample of recently acquired Spanish-language firm-ordered materials, all of which had vendor records in the OCLC database. Vendor records were compared to final fully cataloged records to study differences in the basic bibliographic description fields (1xx, 245, 300, 4xx, 5xx). Identified were the types of errors found in the records and the duplication rate with records already in the database (full LC and member records, partial member records, and other vendors). Both areas are problematic for cataloging units. Secondary research objectives included tracking titles for usable copy cataloging and analyzing the cost impact for typical cataloging workflow. The researchers conclude that the records, though sometimes problematic, are useful. Suggestions are given for areas of improvement.

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Book Vendor Records in the OCLC Database

In this study, Texas A&M University faculty and graduate students from 16 departments completed a survey about their methods of finding videocassettes in the library, how they searched the online catalog LibCat for videocassettes, and their perceptions of catalog record elements. Results demonstrated that the majority of respondents used LibCat the most often for finding videocassettes. They searched by title and were satisfied with known item searching. Finally, respondents considered authors of original works, actors, and directors as useful to both search and view in LibCat, while few perceived editor, consultant, and camera person as useful.

Faculty and Graduate Student Search Patterns and Perceptions of Videos in the Online Catalog

For almost half a century, music librarians, media librarians, and professional associations have advocated classifying audiovisual materials using the same classification scheme that a library uses for print materials. Despite this strong advocacy, not all media materials have been classified. Music moving image materials have often received the same lack of subject classification access as sound recordings and other media resources. Libraries are now replacing their videocassette collections with DVDs and are presented with the opportunity to rectify this situation. A discussion of the advantages of including class numbers in the bibliographic records for music moving image materials will also demonstrate the applicability and advantages for video collections in general.

The Classification of Music Moving Image Materials: Historical Perspectives, Problems, and Practical Solutions

In this article, we examine some of the proposals which have dealt with the problems in cataloging in two different technological contexts: Printed-card catalogs and online catalogs We first look at some of the measures which attempted to deal with the crisis in cataloging at the Library of Congress in the 1940s Then we address some of the current problems in cataloging in the era of online public access catalogs (OPACs) In particular, we discuss the extent to which minimal-level cataloging, as defined by the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules and implemented in the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC®) database, works for maps Our discussion is organized around two main groups of access points: Controlled vocabulary data elements, including name data elements, and free-text data elements In closing, we discuss prospects that the next generation of online catalogs using the Z3950 protocol and SGML format might offer to minimal-level cataloging for maps

Minimal level cataloging: what does it mean for maps in the contexts of card catalogs, online catalogs, and digital libraries?

This article begins with a folksy exploration of the evolution of audiovisual materials as an important media. It then discusses the tendency within the cataloging community to treat these materials differently from print publications, i.e., give them less-than-full cataloging. Handman then discusses the Impact of minimal-level cataloging on the ability of the user to retrieve these materials. Handman cites examples where access to them is greatly impeded by the lack of added entries, subject headings and genre headings.

Gary Handman

Papers

I Lost It (or Found It) at the Movies