Showing papers on "Cataloging published in 2007"

Structure and form of folksonomy tags: The road to the public library catalogue.

Abstract: Folksonomies have the potential to add much value to public library catalogues by enabling clients to: store, maintain, and organize items of interest in the catalogue using their own tags. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the tags that constitute folksonomies are structured. Tags were acquired over a thirty-day period from the daily tag logs of three folksonomy sites, Del.icio.us, Furl, and Technorati. The tags were evaluated against section 6 (choice and form of terms) of the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) guidelines for the construction of controlled vocabularies. This evaluation revealed that the folksonomy tags correspond closely to the NISO guidelines that pertain to the types of concepts expressed by the tags, the predominance of single tags, the predominance of nouns, and the use of recognized spelling. Potential problem areas in the structure of the tags pertain to the inconsistent use of the singular and plural form of count nouns, and the incidence of ambiguous tags in the form of homographs and unqualified abbreviations or acronyms. Should library catalogues decide to incorporate folksonomies, they could provide clear guidelines to address these noted weaknesses, as well as links to external dictionaries and references sources such as Wikipedia to help clients disambiguate homographs and to determine if the full or abbreviated forms of tags would be preferable.

Cataloging Cultural Objects: A Guide to Describing Cultural Works and Their Images

Abstract: Abstract

FRBR and the History of Cataloging

Abstract: Understanding FRBR: What It Is and How It Will Affect Our Retrieval Tools, Arlene G. Taylor. Copyright (c) 2007 by Arlene G. Taylor. Reproduced with the permission of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc., Westport, CT.

Being a librarian: Metadata and metadata specialists in the twenty-first century

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to forecast the changing roles of librarians – especially catalogers and metadata specialists – in today's technology‐driven research, teaching, and learning environments, in which information seekers behave more and more self‐sufficiently and move well beyond library collections in their pursuit of information.Design/methodology/approach – Places the roles of librarians and library collections in the larger context of knowledge management and campus information network processes, which occur in every knowledge community, with or without a library. Explores and provides examples of how knowledge creators can collaborate with information technology experts and librarians to transform how faculty members teach and conduct research; how students learn; and how libraries support these activities.Findings – Librarians need to make their collections and services much more visible through human and technological interconnections and greatly improved delivery of information content. Meta...

The challenges of change: A review of cataloging and classification literature, 2003-2004

Abstract: This paper reviews the enormous changes in cataloging and classification reflected in the literature of 2003 and 2004, and discusses major themes and issues. Traditional cataloging and classification tools have been revamped and new resources have emerged. Most notable themes are: the continuing influence of the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Control (FRBR); the struggle to understand the ever-broadening concept of an “information entity”; steady developments in metadata-encoding standards; and the globalization of information systems, including multilinguistic challenges.

The Changing Face of Cataloging Positions at Academic Institutions: What Skill Set is Needed, and How Can Students Prepare?

Abstract: Looking at the changes and trends in technical services departments during the last 15-20 years, this paper discusses how cataloging positions have changed since the late 1980s, what skills are required for today's cataloging positions, and what library science students can do to prepare for a successful and fulfilling career in technical services Although traditional cataloging skills are still needed, today's hires must possess additional skills such as computer skills, communication skills, and management skills as well as traits such as flexibility, a willingness to learn, and a tolerance for change to succeed and flourish in the field

The Roles of the Metadata Librarian in a Research Library

Abstract: The position of metadata librarian recently has been a popular addition to the staff of research libraries. The position often is created in response to the opportunities and challenges of metadata management within libraries with significant digital initiatives. Treating specifically the institutions that place such a position within a traditional cataloging or technical services department, the author examines the distinctive combination of skills and responsibilities in these positions. He identifies four roles (collaboration, research, education, and development) that define the position and its mandate in the library, and also discusses the crucial factor of librarianship in pursuing these roles.

Knowledge Accessibility and Preservation Policy for the Digital Age

Abstract: Recent advances in digital technology have created the potential to make the vast stock of recorded knowledge searchable using sophisticated tools by anyone with an internet connection. As Google is in the process of demonstrating, it is now feasible to scan the collections of the major libraries of the world within a matter of years, convert these works into an immense searchable digital archive, and enable Internet users to find the most relevant materials easily. The principal impediment to this project, however, appears to be the inherent unpredictability of copyright law's fair use doctrine. Shortly after Google's announcement, leading publishers and authors filed suit alleging that Google's project infringed their copyrights. The importance of these issues, and the fact that Congress did not foresee the possibilities for a universally accessible, comprehensive archive when it last considered the role of libraries, call for Congress to consider the larger public policy ramifications of digital archiving and search technology. The goals of collecting, preserving, and cataloging human knowledge predate copyright laws. As copyright law developed, it embraced these concerns. Drawing upon this history, this article examines the democratic, cultural, and economic dimensions of developing a comprehensive, searchable database of books and other library materials. It then analyzes the spectrum of institutional alternatives for promoting the goals of preserving and providing access to knowledge while safeguarding copyright law's incentives to create. The article recommends that Congress effectuate these goals through a carefully crafted package of safe harbors, measured liability exposure for technology vulnerable to piracy, and public involvement in the development and management of a searchable digital repository of copyrighted works. For the longer term, the Article recommends that Congress update the deposit requirement to provide for digital deposit of written works and plan for the development of a public comprehensive searchable archive. In the event that legislation is not forthcoming before the Google Book Search Project is litigated, the article shows that copyright law's long-standing access and preservation goals provide an important context for courts applying copyright law's fair use doctrine to digital archiving activities.

Managing e‐books at the University of Derby: a case study

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to describe the practical experience of managing e‐books in an academic library.Design/methodology/approach – An overview of the three main e‐book collections used (netLibrary, Taylor & Francis, and Ebook Library via Dawson) is provided, along with details such as the acquisition, cataloguing and maintenance of e‐books; funding, licensing and authentication; varying interfaces; publicity, promotion and user education; subject coverage, statistics and usage.Findings – Variations in approach and services by the suppliers of e‐books can provide challenges for those managing e‐books.Originality/value – The paper provides practical details of managing e‐books in an academic library that might be of relevance to others.

Serials and Multiple Versions, or the Inexorable Trend toward Work-Level Displays

Abstract: The proliferation of multiple versions for bibliographic works presents numerous challenges to the cataloger and, by extension, to the catalog user. Fifteen years after the Multiple Versions Forum held in Airlie, Virginia, online public access catalog (OPAC) users continue to grapple with confusing displays representing numerous serial manifestations (i.e., versions) resulting from the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules’ (AACR2) cardinal principle (Rule 0.24). Two initiatives offer hope for more coherent OPAC displays in light of a renewed focus upon user needs: the ongoing revision of AACR2, and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions’ Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR) model. A third potential tool for improving OPAC displays exists within a series of standards that have developed to parallel library needs, and today offer a robust communications medium: the MARC 21 authority, bibliographic, and holdings formats. This paper summarizes the challenges posed by multiple versions and presents an analysis of current and emerging solutions.

Resource Discovery: Catalogs, Cataloging, and the User

Abstract: This article considers resource discovery from the viewpoint of visually impaired people. Starting with the tasks of find, identify, select, and obtain, it examines how catalogs can be enhanced to assist visually impaired users. It then looks at the inclusion of specific data within catalog records and how they help the user. This is followed by some reflections on display issues and a reference to the need for accessibility in catalog systems. It concludes that improvements for visually impaired people provide features that sighted people will appreciate as well.

Cataloguing and classification online: the experience of Redeemer's University Library

Abstract: – The purpose of this paper is to report the use of ICT by cataloguers at a private university library in Nigeria., – A description of the procedures and processes undertaken is given., – The description of the processes involved in the use of ICT by cataloguers reveals the effectiveness and efficiency of online searches for the purpose of cataloguing and classification. A few were identified. The study shows the potential offered by the use of ICT, which libraries in developing nations – and indeed Nigeria – have not fully embraced. The paper reveals the low level of ICT literacy in libraries in Nigeria and concludes that this is a result of the deficiency in the practical training of librarians in the use of ICT in Nigerian library schools., – The conclusion is that there is an urgent need for librarians in developing nations to gain proficiency in the use of ICT as a tool in libraries., – The paper provides information on the level of ICT use for cataloguing and classification in a private university library in Nigeria. This experience shows the importance of why libraries in developing countries should address the desired level of ICT literacy among their librarians.

Providing Access to Electronic Journals in Academic Libraries

Abstract: Lisa O'Hara has been Electronic Resources Cataloguer at the University of Manitoba Libraries in Winnipeg, Canada since 2002. Prior to this, she held a variety of positions in cataloguing and technical services at academic, special and public libraries over a period of ten years. She has been a trainer for the CONSER coordinated Serials Cataloging Cooperative Training Program for the workshop on integrating resources since 2003 and has presented to local groups on providing access to electronic resources.

Mapping WorldCat's Digital Landscape

Abstract: Digital materials are reshaping library collections and, by extension, traditional library practice for collecting, organizing, and preserving information This paper uses OCLC’s WorldCat bibliographic database as a data source for examining questions relating to digital materials in library collections, including criteria for identifying digital materials algorithmically in MARC21 records; the quantity, types, characteristics, and holdings patterns of digital materials cataloged in WorldCat; and trends in WorldCat cataloging activity for digital materials over time Issues pertaining to cataloging practice for digital materials and perspectives on digital holdings at the work level also are discussed Analysis of the aggregate collection represented by the combined digital holdings in WorldCat affords a high-level perspective on historical patterns, suggests future trends, and supplies useful intelligence with which to inform decision making in a variety of areas

A popular DVD collection in an academic library

Abstract: Purpose – This paper was written to aid academic libraries that may be considering adding collections of popular culture items to their collections. The Multimedia Center at the University of Rochester's River Campus Libraries partnered with students to establish a popular DVD collection in 2001. Changes in acquisitions, cataloging, processing, shelving, and access were required. A review of the current literature helps make a compelling story for why these items add value to the libraries' collections and how they contribute to the educational mission of the university.Design/methodology/approach – Changes that were made to provide improved access to a high circulation collection are discussed. Current literature on popular culture collections in academic libraries, media literacy, and the unique creation of knowledge by the current generation of college students is used to provide a basis for supporting these incongruous collections.Findings – The generation of students who have grown up with the intern...

Meeting the Needs of Special Format Catalogers: Ideas for Professional Organizations, Library Schools, and Professional Catalogers

Abstract: SUMMARY Catalogers are essential for cataloging and classification of resources in library catalogs to create a resource discovery tool to aid users in their research and public service librarians to assist users. The number of catalogers in libraries has declined in past decades; and many more are on the cusp of retirement, resulting in an impending loss of collective history. Previous literature addressed catalogers in general, the training and recruitment of catalogers, and the expected retirements of librarians in general. The purpose of this study is to assess the specific needs of nonprint or special format catalogers in relation to education, training, and mentorship. A voluntary online survey conducted in 2004 asked questions about special format catalogers' current work, involvement in professional organizations, source of their training, their opinions of library school education, and demographic questions. The survey results indicate nearly half of all special format catalogers will retire with...

Providing access to uncataloged special collections with in-process records

Abstract: Adapting the method used by many libraries in the acquisitions workflow to export OCLC WorldCat bibliographic records into the local online catalog, the Special Collections Department at the University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries developed a process employing a graduate student to provide access to two previously hidden special collections until the materials can be fully cataloged. The completion of the project undertaken by the student assistant resulted in the simultaneous benefits of increased efficiency among the catalogers and greater provision of access to enable users to identify important resources for their research and study. By initiating similar procedures to represent not-yet-cataloged materials with online in-process records, other libraries can move their hidden collections into the view of their users.

PANDORA, Australiaa's Web Archive

Abstract: In this article, the history of the development of Australia's Web archive, PANDORA, is presented Criteria for selection, harvesting techniques, the static or dynamic nature of the material, and the technical aspects of archiving are discussed Policy matters include copyright, permission to archive, legal deposit arrangements, requests to remove harvested material Practices for administrative, preservation, descriptive, and rights metadata are reviewed Observations are made on the various functions served by the metadata The dataflow and the distribution of the cataloguing data are cited Resources that need periodic re-harvesting due to their dynamic nature and resources that involve parent-child relationships have implications for cataloguing workload Staffing resources and costs are assessed

Cross-Lingual Name and Subject Access: Mechanisms and Challenges

Abstract: This paper considers issues surrounding name and subject access across languages and cultures, particularly mechanisms and knowledge organization tools (e.g., cataloging, metadata) for cross-lingual information access. The author examines current mechanisms for cross-lingual name and subject access and identifies major factors that hinder cross-lingual information access. The author provides examples from the Korean language that demonstrate the problems with cross-language name and subject access.

Utility, library priorities, and cataloging policies

Abstract: This paper seeks to provide a philosophical framework for choices made about library priorities and cataloging policy, the contexts in which they are made, and the consequences they have for users. The authors invoke the notion of utility as a philosophical backdrop for dealing with competing library choices and the fallout from those prioritizations. They then look at how general utilitarian principles can contextualize the layers of wants, needs, and resource allocations in the research library environment. Finally, they examine issues and recent developments at the Cornell University Library as a case study with which to illustrate some of these principles.

Art museum libraries and librarianship

Abstract: Part 1 Foreword Part 2 Preface and Acknowledgments Part 3 Introduction Part 4 Part I: The Many Facets of Art Museum Librarianship Chapter 5 1 Outside In: Leading and Managing the Art Museum Library Chapter 6 2 Reader Services, Reference, and the Art Musuem Library's Clientele Chapter 7 3 Automating the Art Museum Library in the Twenty-First Century Chapter 8 4 A Delicate Balance: Access and Security in the Art Museum Library Chapter 9 5 Cataloging and Technical Services in the Art Museum Library Chapter 10 6 Space Planning in the Art Museum Library Part 11 Part II: Building Collections: The Intellectual Content of the Art Museum Library Chapter 12 7 Collection Development and the Acquisition Process: The Art Museum Librarian as Curator Chapter 13 8 Curating Images: Visual Resources in the Art Museum Library Chapter 14 9 The Invisible Made Visible: Collecting Ephemera in the Art Museum Library Chapter 15 10 Special Collections in the Art Museum Library Chapter 16 11 Institutional Archives: The Art Museum Library's Memory Part 17 Part III: Promoting, Sustaining, and Developing Support for the Art Museum Library Chapter 18 12 Fundamentals of Fund-Raising for the Art Museum Library Chapter 19 13 Marketing, Public Relations, and Advocacy in the Art Museum Library Chapter 20 14 Working with Volunteers and Interns in the Art Museum Library Chapter 21 15 Professional Development: Investing in Art Museum Librarianship Chapter 22 16 Solo Librarianship in the Art Museum Library Part 23 Part IV: Thumbnail Sketches: Profiles of Fifteen Art Museum Libraries Part 24 Appendixes Part 25 Bibliography Part 26 Index Part 27 About the Contributors

Web Access to Electronic Journals and Databases in ARL Libraries

Abstract: Libraries are investing heavily in an increasing number of electronic journals and providing access to them through their websites. We set out to determine if ARL academic libraries offer the same options on their websites to access electronic journals and databases. Using a checklist, we evaluated the websites for the presence of A-Z lists, links from the catalog, a way to search electronic journals by title and subject, and a link to databases. We determined whether the library subscribed to more than one version of a journal; how they displayed coverage information; what their cataloging policy was if they cataloged their electronic journals (i.e., single vs. multiple records); and whether the holdings in the catalog were the same as the holdings on the list. We looked for the presence of citation linkers, federated searching, and subject searching of databases. Finally, we wanted to know if the links for the electronic journals went to a table of contents or directly to an article. Since we c...

Rapid cataloging : Three models for addressing timeliness as an issue of quality in library catalogs

Abstract: This paper analyses the presuppositions, goals, and implementations of policies for rapid cataloging in three large academic libraries in the United States. In the first model, The University of Chicago's W-Collection, there was no attempt to catalog materials; the order record alone is used and the items are shelved in a publicly accessible area by accession number. The second model, Princeton's ATA Procedure, made cataloging the initial activity upon receipt, the purpose of which was “to give the future librarians enough information to know if the item is already in the collection or not” and also to serve (with subject headings and classification) the library's users. Finally, Cornell's COR Procedure in which all information in the records is assumed to be temporary and therefore unimportant; the necessary information is expected to be acquired later from commercial sources.

Derivative bibliographic relationships in the Slovenian online catalogue COBIB

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this research is to provide information about derivative bibliographic relationships in the online catalogue COBIB, to investigate size and complexity of bibliographic families and to determine whether bibliographic characteristics are associated with the extent of derivations.Design/methodology/approach – A bibliographic entity consisting of a work and item is represented by bibliographic records. A random sample of records is converted into a sample of progenitor works and bibliographic families for each progenitor are constructed.Findings – 25.75 per cent of progenitor works are derivative; successive derivations with 67.02 per cent appear most frequently. The size of bibliographic families ranges from 1 to 16; older progenitors have larger families. The majority of families have one type of relationship; there is one case with four types. A large proportion, 59.06 per cent, of derivative relationships is not expressed explicitly by catalogue.Research limitations/implications –...

Reinventing the OPAC

Abstract: People who cannot invent and reinvent themselves must be content with borrowed postures, secondhand ideas, fitting in instead of standing out.--Warren G. Bennis (1) The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.--attributed to Benjamin Franklin by Brainyquotes.com (2) In trying to figure out how best to present all of the data, opinions, and current discussion swirling around the whole "future of cataloging" issue, and since I have already stated my opinion in chapter 1 (which is that the era of the library OPAC is over), I thought it best to just provide a kind of written mashup of all the good resources, presentations, and even listserv posts regarding the whole topic. There seem to be two major paths forward so far: reuse, reinvent, reconceptualize the current OPAC and its data in forward-thinking, new ways; or dump the "lipstick on a pig" concept and just start building and working with users in Web/Library 2.0 and 3.0 directions. The many and varied opinions and quotes regarding the former are provided in this chapter. All of these links, quotes, and opinions are must-read pieces. Perspectives on the OPAC's Future Papers, Articles, and Reports "ILS Assessment: A Background Document" Revised background document created for a one-day symposium on the future of the Integrated Library System hosted by the University of Windsor, Nov. 15, 2006 (dated June 1, 2007) http://infoservices.uwindsor.ca/dist/backgrounder.pdf This is a fact-based, economics-reality look at the future of the ILS in libraries. There are numerous statements from other related documents that warrant quoting (references are provided in the document): Today--information resources are relatively abundant and user attention is relatively scarce [dispersed]. The network is now the focus of a user's attention, and the available collection is a very much larger resource that the local catalogued collection. This poses major questions for the future of the catalogue and this is bound up with the difference between discovery (identifying the resources of interest) and location (identifying where those resources of interest are actually available). There may be many discovery environments, which then need to locate resources in particular collections. While the catalogue may be a part of the location process its role in the discovery process needs to be worked through. (Dempsey, 2006, p. 2) [Consider a business model]--in healthy businesses, the demand for a product and the capacity to produce it are in balance. Research libraries invest huge sums in the infrastructure that produces their local catalogues, but search engines are students' and scholars' favourite place to begin a search. More users bypass catalogues for search engines, but research libraries' investment in catalogues--and in the collections they describe--does not reflect the shift in user demand (Calhoun, 2006, p. 15) The time and energy required to do Library business is unsustainable. We have people performing duplicative work throughout our system. We are unable to share matching resources or records across our multiple catalogues, content management systems, and differing standards. These redundancies have opportunity costs in terms of services we do not have the time or staff to offer. We all agree that the cost of our bibliographic services enterprise is unsupportable as we move into an increasingly digital world, yet a solution is nowhere in sight. (Univ Calif., 2005, p. 9) The OPAC of the future will not be our most important finding tool.... The OPAC should function well alone but recognize its position in the larger scope of available information (the catalogue of the future will feed end user discovery tools as well as be a discovery tool in its own right) (Tennant, Nov. …

A Rough Measure of Copy Cataloging Productivity in the Academic Library

Abstract: Introduction Cataloging productivity has been notoriously difficult to measure. This is borne out by the fact that, while enough has been written to produce two bibliographies on the subject (in 1970 and 1988--and more since), the vast majority of this work "is fragmentary, limited in scope, and short on detail (Morris, Herbert, Osmus, & Wool, 2000). The research is near-impossible to replicate because it is based on locally produced (and undefined) data, it is focused often on the productivity of individuals in a local circumstance, and it is frequently cast in terms of costs and benefits where costs are often difficult to define and measure and thoroughly monetizing the benefits of libraries has been largely absent (Charbonneau, 2005; University of Maryland Libraries, 2001). The issue has frequently boiled down to the "allegorical battle between Quantity and Quality" (Mandel, 1988, p. 215) with much room for posturing over needs for justification from management and the indignant reply of placing monetary value on such a thing. Hence productivity data is "scanty" and tends to focus on turn around time--a measure itself going back thirty years in ARL libraries (University of Maryland Libraries, 2001). In turn, much has been said over a long period of time about the death of the book: McLuhan's (1962; 1965; see also Neill, 1971) work implied that the book was dead--superseded by media culture; and F.W. Lancaster (1982, p. 149-150) predicted about a quarter century ago that, as the "print on paper literature of the past" is replaced by electronic versions, we will see "the disappearance of the library ... All that will remain are a few institutions that preserve the printed records of the past"--hence "the paperless society." Despite this, in 2004 (a year of relevance in this article), 375,000 new titles and editions of books were published in the English speaking world, and in terms of U.S. book production, the numbers of titles have grown substantially over the last decade from 104,124 in 1993 to 190,078 in 2004 (Bowker.com, 2005; Grabois, 2005). Academic libraries (both the largest and smaller ones) have in turn increased expenditures and acquisitions of books (Stoller, 2006), so it is still a reasonable assumption for the foreseeable future that academic libraries will acquire a not insignificant portion of this output. Rider University Library has followed this general pattern. A private, coeducational university located in New Jersey, Rider has two campuses and libraries (Lawrenceville and Princeton), 3,764 full-time undergraduates, 822 part-time, and 1,204 graduate students. The Moore Library in Lawrenceville is a medium sized academic library: 450,000 volumes, 80 databases, and 20,000+ journal titles--mostly in electronic formats, 10 library faculty and 13 support staff with 2 supervisors. In 2003, a major review of spending patterns and curriculum support needs resulted in a significant reconceptualization and shift in collection philosophy at Moore Library. Discontinuing some print duplication of stable electronic periodical content resulted in the ability to shift needed funding into monographs acquisition. This strategy was augmented by a long overdue increase in the monographs collection budget. The result was an increase in monographs acquisition, from 3311 purchased volumes in AY 2000-2001, to 5029 purchased volumes in AY 2004-2005--an almost 52% increase. Total added monographic volumes went from 5173 to 6474, representing an approximately 25% rise. It is due to this increase and a related problem that we produced a rough copy cataloging productivity benchmark. It is worth noting here that by benchmark we mean primarily quantity of work, rather than the concept of "'production benchmarks' ... developed to measure and compare quantitative and qualitative output" primarily applied to professional catalogers working at higher skill-set levels (Charbonneau, 2005, p. 41). Faced with a management challenge in terms of both an increase in monographic acquisitions and recurring requests for additional copy cataloging help, questions concerning the actual need for that help arose. …