Cataloging

About: Cataloging is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4770 publications have been published within this topic receiving 32489 citations.

Metadata and providing access to e‐books

Abstract: In the very near future, students are likely to expect their universities to provide seamless access to e-books through online library catalogues and virtual learning environments. A paradigm change in terms of the format of books, and especially textbooks, which could have far-reaching impact, is on the horizon. Based on interviews with a number of key informants across several universities in the UK, this paper identifies a number of challenges associated with the creation of the essential metadata to support smooth access to e-books within universities. These challenges arise both from internal acquisition and cataloguing processes within libraries, and from the nature and quality of vendor's e-book metadata, and variously impact on the location of and access to e-books. Access is further hindered by authentication controls, digital rights controls and missing links. e-Book vendors and publishers, librarians and educational technologists need to work together to resolve these issues. In addition, there is scope for further research into the issues associated with providing access to e-books. Practitioner Notes What is already known about this topic e-Books are an important and growing category of digital resource that are becoming central to learning and education., Users expect easy and convenient location of and access to e-books., What this paper adds Summarises issues associated with the selection of e-books for inclusion in academic library Online Public Access Catalogues and learning platforms., Explores the challenges associated with the creation of metadata for e-books, which arise both from internal acquisition and cataloguing processes within libraries, and from the nature and quality of vendor's e-book metadata., Reports on the challenges that users experience in locating an e-book as a result of authentication controls, digital rights controls and missing links., Implications for practice and/or policy Provision of access to e-books for learning in universities is at an early stage, so it is important to listen to users and commit to continuous improvement., Anticipating considerable growth in the use of e-books in learning, metadata and access issues, issues which currently appear to be in the realm of academic librarians are likely to impact significantly on access to e-books through virtual learning environments., While, some current problems can be easily resolved, others are embedded in the approaches adopted by libraries and vendors, and collaboration towards paradigm change is necessary., Further research should be conducted into the issues associated with metadata, cataloguing processes,and, in general, providing access to e-books. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medium or message? A new look at standards, structures, and schemata for managing electronic resources

Abstract: This article examines several library metadata standards, structures and schema relevant to the challenge of managing electronic resources. Among the standards, structures and schema to be discussed are MARC, METS, Dublin Core, EAD, XrML, and ODRL. The authors’ analysis reveals that there is currently no one standard, structure or schema that adequately addresses the complexity of e‐resource management. The article concludes with an outline and proposal for a new metadata schema designed to manage electronic resources.

Modeling Rare and Unique Documents: Using FRBROO/CIDOC CRM

Abstract: Both the library and the museum communities have developed conceptual models for the information they produce about the collections they hold: FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records) and CIDOC CRM (Conceptual Reference Model). But neither proves perfectly adequate when it comes to some specific types of rare and unique materials: manuscripts, hand-press resources, annotated copies of printed books, art prints, and ephemera and clippings files. However, a combination of these two models, named FRBROO, solves the problem. The article examines in detail how each of these types of resources is modeled according to FRBROO.

Parallel Systems: The Coexistence of Subject Cataloging and Folksonomy

Abstract: Introduction Catalogers have always had to balance adherence to cataloging rules and authority files with creating cataloging that is current and relevant to users. That dilemma has been complicated in new ways because of user demands in the world of Web 2.0. Standardized cataloging is crucial for communication between computer systems, but patrons now have an expectation of social interaction on the Internet, as evidenced by the popularity of folksonomy. After a description of traditional subject cataloging and folksonomy, this article discusses several institutions where subject cataloging is still used, but where patron interaction is also encouraged. User-generated tags can coexist with controlled vocabulary such as subject headings. Two Types of Subject Analysis Subject cataloging has certain features that distinguish it from folksonomy. First, subject cataloging is a top-down approach, where the library professional determines the topical scope of the item being analyzed and assigns subjects to the bibliographic record. While recognizing user and library needs, the cataloger is the final arbiter of the subject headings. Second, the subject headings assigned are either prescribed or are derived according to rules that have been articulated. An obvious example is the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) with its accompanying manuals and interpretations. Traditional subject cataloging is also hierarchical. Similar to taxonomy, subject groupings are generated in a tree-like, hierarchical structure. A cataloger working with a book on horses would apply the specific subject heading Horses even though a subset of the horses in the book are Arabians and some of them pictured are white. Moreover, if one did use the term White horses, it would be incorrect to assign the additional term Black horses. Contraries matter in a traditional classification system, and there are right and wrong subject headings. In sum, library subject cataloging is based on established principles and rules. It is restrictive rather than inclusive, because choices are made by an information specialist who assigns a limited number of relevant subject headings. In the classical application of subject terms, the underlying assumption is that there are particular, relevant heading(s) to apply and that the author's intent is of primary importance, even though the needs of the library patron are given consideration. The cataloger aspires to be the unbiased professional, making cataloging decisions and without the interference of personal interpretations. In contrast to subject cataloging, folksonomy is a reflection of personal preference. Folksonomy, or social bookmarking, emerged as a trend in 2005 as an alternative to traditional hierarchical cataloging. As defined by Wikipedia, "Folksonomy is a collaboratively generated, open-ended labeling system that enables Internet users to categorize content such as Web pages, online photographs, and Web links." The article continues by explaining that "the freely chosen labels, called tags, help to improve search engine's effectiveness because content is categorized using a familiar, accessible, and shared vocabulary" ("Folksonomy"). It is appropriate to define folksonomy by using Wikipedia, which is a very good example of a work that is maintained by a social network of individual contributors. Hammond and others have preferred to call folksonomies by the name social bookmarking, emphasizing the social networking that may be achieved by the collaborative effort of assigning subjects and tagging an online piece (Hammond, 2005). In her article on the high-stakes game of tag now being played by companies, Dye (2006) differentiates two types of folksonomies, broad and narrow. The first type characterizes an application whose users assign tags to the same content. One of the fastest growing folksonomy communities is del.icio.us, a well-known and representative social bookmarking site. …