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Technical Services Round Table
Trip Notes: Utah State University Catologing Department
ULA 2002: Trip notes from the Utah State University Cataloging Department
Kenning Arlitsch discussed and demonstrated enhancements possible in digitized collections. These include the display of the pdf image and the ASCII / OCR searchable text version side by side (see Overland Trails Diaries and Maps). The utility of the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps is increased by the zooming ability provided by the Mr. Sid viewer plugin. A cautionary warning: Searching the digital collections using the advanced search page (the stock search engine provided by the CONTENTdm software) will result in a keyword search of even the authority controlled headings unless the search term is enclosed in quotes. (I have handouts if anyone wants further information.) ULA 2002 - Cheryl Adams The ARL Scholar’s Portal: What? Why? And When? This session was presented by Sarah Michalak, Director of the Marriott Library, University of Utah. As a participant in the OCLC ARL Keystone Conference, she became a member of the ARL (Association of Research Libraries) Scholar’s Portal Working Group. Based on a key principle developed at the Keystone Conference, the Scholar’s Portal is meant to help fulfill the responsibility of libraries “for creating innovative information systems for the dissemination and preservation of information and new knowledge regardless of format.” Characteristics of a portal include: single search engine providing access to Web-based and other information resources, integration of multiple applications and resources, customization and personalization (Michael Looney, Peter Lyman. “Portals in higher education. What are they and what is their potential?” Educause Review, July/August 2000. http://www.educause/edu/pub/er/erm.html) Following a discussion of various types of portals (consumer, community, enterprise, vertical, and horizontal), Ms. Michalak focused on university portals (used to create institutional “branding” and a sense of community in addition to providing access to information), academic gateways (static lists of links), and library websites moving from gateway to portal status, or approaching portal status. Examples of the latter include the BYU Lee Library, UCSD’s Sage, and MyLibrary@NCState (http://my.lib.ncsu.edu/), an example of a near-portal. A true scholar’s portal would provide search capability across all formats with all results integrated (no matter the source), relevance-ranked, de-duplicated, and including full text when available. It would be customizable and would integrate with course software such as WebCT. Institutions participating in the ARL Scholar’s Portal project are: Arizona State University, Dartmouth College, Iowa State University, University of Arizona, University of California, San Diego, University of Southern California, and University of Utah. A product has just been selected to serve as the basis for this portal project: ZPortal offered by Fretwell Downing. (I have handouts if anyone wants further information.) ULA 2002 - Cheryl Adams Consortia - Increasingly Complex, But Can They Also Be Creative? Johann van Reenen, Director of Public Services, University of New Mexico, offered a different view of consortia than is common among libraries. He divides consortia into three types: buyers club, connectivity club, and innovation club. Most library consortia fall into the first category, where libraries band together for access to goods and services at discounted prices and to share resources. As alternatives to this limited type of consortia, he discussed two groups with which he, and the University of New Mexico, have been involved in the science and technology area. An example of a connectivity type of consortium is ISTEC, Ibero American Science & Technology Education Consortium. A description of this group and its founding is available at http://www.istec.org/about/history.html. The group consists of academic and industrial/institutional members working together to promote collaboration in science and technology research, education, and knowledge transfer. ISTEC’s Library Linkages Initiative (LibLink) promotes information creation and sharing among members of the consortium. There are also initiatives for advanced continuing education and for development of research & development laboratories. An example of the innovation type of consortium is the Alliance for Innovation in Science and Technology (AISTI). Their mission, as stated on their home page, is: “...to acquire science and technology information and to create collaborative tool sets exploiting these to the best advantage for our researchers.” (See http://www.aisti.org) This group goes beyond information and resource sharing to facilitate creation of new knowledge. Members include the Santa Fe Institute and the Los Alamos National Laboratory Research Library, among others. One example of the creation of a new “tool set” is the Alliance’s purchase of ISI citation data on tape, and the manipulation of this data into multi-resolution terrain generation. This provides a 3-dimensional display of citation dynamics. Rick Luce is working at the Los Alamos National Laboratory Research Library to develop a “Library without Walls.” One aspect of this project is adding XML information to MARC records. Cross-platform searching is also a key component. (See http://lib-www.lanl.gov/lww/welcome.html) ULA 2002 - Cheryl Adams/Melanie Shaw Metadata: Beyond MARC and LCSH Cheryl Walters began the session by defining metadata as “structured data about data.” Catalog cards and inventories or registers were early versions of metadata; the most common recent example is the MARC record. New formats for metadata include HTML and Dublin Core. “Cross-walks” such as OCLC’s CORC allow conversion between metadata formats (e.g., MARC to Dublin Core to HTML-DC.) As the world of metadata moves beyond the cataloging department and the boundaries of AACR2, LCSH, ISBD, etc., the challenge is to develop standards and guidelines in order to facilitate the continued preservation and sharing of information. (We have handouts for this part of the session if anyone wants further detail.) Shannon Hoffman, Subject Authorities Librarian at BYU, continued the session by discussing subject analysis, authority control, and the use of faceted LC subject headings in the digital library environment. When developing digital collections, thought must be given to who the primary users will be, what other users might be interested in the project, how they will be able to search effectively (keyword and/or controlled vocabulary), and what software programs will be used to display and access the materials. Because all words in a metadata record are not of equal value to searchers, some organization is necessary before keyword searching is very useful. Various decisions need to be made before tagging the words searched:
As metadata records began to be created for digital materials at BYU, challenges were presented by the fact that students were doing the work. Dispersed, untrained workers made it difficult to create standardized records. The decision was made to use the simplified system of LC subject headings called FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology.) This system divides subjects into four facets: topical, geographical, form, and period/date. FAST can be authority-controlled and is compatible with the use of full LC subject headings. This part of the session concluded with examples of the challenging research required when cataloging digital materials such as historic photographs. (We have handouts for this part of the session for those wanting more detail.) The final part of this session was presented by Kayla Willey, Brigham Young University, who spoke about various problems and solutions discovered during the course of BYU’s Overland Trails project. When starting a digitization project take advantage of any existing metadata (MARC catalog records, finding aids, etc.). The catalog/finding aid records for the collections were used to create a ‘mother record’. MARC fields were mapped to Dublin Core tags. Each diary page was transcribed by students as well as scanned; each name mentioned in the diary was tagged and matched to authorized forms of the name in the metadata. Each page received its own metadata which caused some problems with the software limits on size. The geographic subjects were ‘normalized’ after the project’s end (there were variations in spelling, typos, different versions of names, etc.). (There were no handouts for this part of the session.) ULA 2002 - Cheryl Walters/Melanie Shaw Authority Control Preconference by Rachel Wadham, NACO Coordinator and Names Authorities Librarian at BYU Morning session: Why authority control is important: What authority control does: Some ways to justify authority control to administrators: (Handout showing Dublin Core elements compared to MARC fields) Reviewed the MARC authority record format (see following URL for OCLC’s description of the MARC authority record format: http://www.oclc.org/oclc/man/5411aug/appc.htm)
Parent and child authority records: for authors with numerous pseudonyms. The records for the ‘real’ name contains all cross-references, the child records for the pseudonyms refer back to the ‘parent’ record. Series title auth records with numerous name changes will refer to the previous and later titles. Further detail can be found in the MARC 21 Authority Format (also available in Catalogers Desktop). Afternoon session: Cooperative Cataloging Programs of the PCC The afternoon session discussed the history and function of various units of the Library of Congress’s Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC). NACO is the Name Authority Cooperative Program, SACO is the Subject Authority Cooperative Program, Bibco is the Bibliographic Cooperative Program, and CONSER is the program that covers serials cataloging. BYU belongs to NACO, SACO, and Bibco, but not to CONSER because CONSER requires OCLC as the primary cataloging vehicle and BYU uses RLIN instead. There is no CONSER library in Utah. CONSER training is very thorough and useful; in addition to cataloging records, CONSER also creates and shares prediction patterns. This summer, CONSER will offer training to PPC members on the new AACR2 Chapter 2 (serials). The importance of becoming a member of these cooperative cataloging programs: (1) they give us an opportunity to influence national cataloging rules and policies; (2) they give excellent training to their members; (3) they provide members a vehicle for contributing new headings to the national authority file; (4) participation is prestigious for the University; and (5) participation in these programs keeps us up to date with changes, developments, and training. To become a full member, have to fill out a form which an administrators signs, get the requisite training (they provide free trainers; just need to pay for travel expenses), and have to have access to OCLC or RLIN. To become a funnel member, would have to go through the training. Headings would be submitted through BYU where the certified NACO/SACO trainers would serve as a clearinghouse. A PCC “funnel” channels new headings through a full PCC member. Funnels are usually organized on a regional basis (for example a Utah funnel for Utah libraries) or on a speciality basis (a group of art or medical libraries, for example). NACO libraries contribute name headings directly to a utility such as OCLC or RLIN. SACO libraries submit proposals for new subject headings to Library of Congress. Bibco libraries can enhance bibliographic records in a utility and contribute new records that carry the “pcc” certification. There was a great interest among the attendees for forming a Utah funnel. For our university, this would be an excellent way to try out and benefit from PCC membership without being committed to an expected quota of heading submissions. After some discussion, we decided to try to organize some further NACO training this year through the Technical Services Round Table, perhaps offering it in two locations: at USU in Logan and perhaps the State Library in Salt Lake City. NACO training takes 3 full days and covers AACR2 chapters 21-25, the MARC authority format, how to construct and research headings, and how to submit them. Covers headings for personal and corporate names, meetings, uniform titles, and introductory SACO training. Series training would take another 3 full days and covers series tags, series treatment fields in the authority record, how to construct series headings, and how to deal with multipart items that are part of a larger work. SACO training takes 1 full day and covers how to research and formulate subject headings; how to apply subdivisions; how to submit proposals. Can also get additional subject training in specific subject areas (Art, Music, etc.). Bibco training takes about 2 full days and covers core level records and the description sections of AACR2. ULA 2002 - Kurt Meyer Communicating with your disabled patrons Introduced by Deleyne Wentz, this program began with a viewing of the short video, “Ten Commandments of Communicating with People with Disabilities,” followed by short presentations from Colby Wilson, Disability Advisor to the Center for Disability Services for the University of Utah, and Jerry Buttars, of the Blind and Physically Handicapped Services of the Utah State Library. The video featured the ten commandments which outline what it describes as “common sense, common courtesy, and simple respect.” “You know we’re all different,” is the creed. It is narrated by Tim Herrington, an individual with a slight speech impediment, but who humorously carries out his job. The ten commandments follow: The video is recommended to help raise the consciousness of new library staff members. It’s price is $195.00. The program continued with a talk from Colby Wilson, disabilities advisor at the University of Utah. He shared some experiences from his job and also amusing anecdotes concerning his dad and his brother. His dad suffered a war-time injury in which he lost his left arm and leg. His brother couldn’t “read a lick” yet works successfully as a bush pilot instructor in Alaska. Following Mr. Wilson, Jerry Buttars discussed the programs at the State Library, focusing mostly on blind person resources. “There is more braille in Utah than anywhere else in the world,” he said, siting that Utah is the site for the western depository of braille material. He reiterated a point from the ten commandments as it applies to blind persons, to always be sure to ask if they need help before giving it. Sometimes they don’t want it. ULA 2002 - Melanie Shaw/Cheryl Walter OCLC’s new Cataloging/Metadata Interface Rosario Garza started out by reminding us that only the Passport interface for Cataloging will be going away soon. Passport for ILL will continue for awhile. On June 30, 2002, a new web browser OCLC interface will be available to replace the CORC interface. The new browser sorta looks like CORC.
OCLC strategy for the future can be found at: a http://www.oclc.org/strategy/. ULA 2002 - Melanie Shaw Continuing Education in Archives, Manuscripts, and Special Collections This workshop focused on archival training. Steve Sturgeon spoke first on the history of the Archival profession and the trend toward professionalization of Archivists in the 1980s and an increased need for archival education. The Society of American Archivists began by offering introductory courses for archivists without professional training and advanced training for professional archivists in need of updating. Lately the SAA has decided to concentrate on the advanced training and leave the introductory courses to other organizations. The workshops they offer can be found at: www.archivists.org. Among many others, the SAA offers a course in archival cataloging. Gordon Daines talked about the Western Archives Institute and others. The Society of California Archivists at www.calarchivists.org sponsor the Western Archives Institute, two weeks of graduate level training in archival management held in California. The Western Archives Institute-Utah was held at the University of Utah last year and was a great success. Plans were being made to hold a second Western Archives Institute in Utah this year, but have been cancelled. And the Conference of Intermountain Archivists usually has workshops for one to two days before their annual conferences. Pat Scott talked next about graduate degrees and courses in Archives at universities. She passed out packets containing printouts of the SAA’s Directory of Archival Education at http://www.archivists.org/prof-education/edd-index.asp#listings – although not all institutions offering archival degrees are listed there. Two that she mentioned, Wayne State University and University of Arizona offer an Archival track MLS, but are not listed on the webpage. The SAA has recently put out its Guidelines for a graduate program in Archival Studies at http://www.archivists.org/prof-education/ed_guidelines.asp. Following the presentations, we had a question and answer period, which included a discussion of the best method for MLS librarians or historians to get archival training, and the rarity of schools specializing in Archival Management. Some Library schools offer an MLS with an emphasis in Archives – this may be a useful way to gain the graduate degree. However, since most of the session participants couldn’t spend that much time away from work, the shorter courses and training offered by SAA and the Western Archives Institute might be the better option. ULA 2002 - Melanie Shaw Cataloging Genealogical Resources Roger Magneson, Cataloging Supervisor at the LDS Family History Library, seems to have tailored this session largely for people searching the LDS Family History Library for records rather than for actual cataloging of genealogical resources. First he gave a brief description of the bibliographic record – containing the author, which is usually a corporation, (often governmental), the title, which is often a common name (Birth records, Diary, City directory, etc.), the notes, and finally, subject classification. In the LDS Family History Library, subject classification is usually by area using a modified Dewey Decimal system with special library codes for subject or form. For instance, family histories in Great Britain are 929.241, and in the United States are 929.273. The modified Dewey number is given a subject code, such as D2 for genealogy, D3 for biography, V2 for vital registration, etc. Further numbers may be added the Dewey number for local area. The LDS Family History Library also uses their own subject heading system based on geographic area and form, with a fairly complicated system of subdivisions. During the Question & Answer period he suggested checking several levels of government when searching for genealogical records: national, state, county, and city, as agencies responsible for vital records varied over time and also varies from country to country. ULA 2002 - Mavis Molto Serials: How Do You Manage? (Table Talk) Facilitators: Catherine McIntyre and Wendy Wise (Utah Valley State College) Overview: A series of questions was posed to the table talk participants to obtain feedback and provide interaction on various serials issues. The questions centered around the major functions performed in the serials department, e.g., Purchasing and Ordering, Processing and Claiming, and Binding. About 25 participants were involved in the table talk. Questions: The following are a few of the questions that were posed: Because of the number of questions posed, there was not sufficient time to cover each topic in depth. However, it was good to hear what other libraries are doing and the concerns they have. At the end of the session, it was suggested that we need to pursue the issues further, perhaps through a listserv or through additional meetings. ULA 2002 - Mavis Molto How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Give Up Journal Check In Speakers: Steve Zink and Rick Anderson (University of Nevada, Reno) Overview: The University of Nevada, Reno, Libraries have decided that investing significant staff time in the management of the least used part of the collection is a bad idea, and have discontinued check in of print journals. The serials staff consists of 2.5 FTE. The libraries use the Innopac system. Steve Zink, Vice-President for Information Technology and Dean of Libraries, gave the first presentation. He raised questions we need to think about, such as: Rick Anderson, Electronic Resource Coordinator, gave the second presentation. He was the one who instigated the change in the check-in process. Purpose of journal check-in Reasons for abandoning journal check-in
New system Process and shelve issues that are on list Put other issues in a problem pile, which is checked for: 1) Title changes, 2) Samples to send to selectors (have one week to respond) Negative outcomes Positive outcomes ULA 2002 - Tonya Sorenson The History of the Book preconference 'The History of the Book: The Power of Images and Words,' presented by Mark Dimunation, Chief of the Rare Book and Special Collections Divisions at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Mark talked of how the printing of the book has enabled information and ideas to be spread throughout the world. He spoke of the history of printing and how it has changed through time. He also discussed different types of paper used in printing and various types of illustrations. He presented a slide show of some examples of books that are housed in the Library of Congress. Many rare books were brought in from Brigham Young University, the University of Utah, Utah State University, and the Salt Lake City Public Library. A page from one of the Guttenburg Bibles was included in this collection. The class participants were given an opportunity to look at and learn about the different books that were brought in. Each book's rarity was explained to us by the librarian responsible for bringing it in.... ULA 2002 - Becky Skene Career Paths for Paraprofessionals Discussed a fairly new Library Technician Program available at Salt Lake Community College. Becky Taylor led the discussion by giving a short background of the program then talking about what the program entails. The Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) started this program after talking to various library related personnel about their needs for general training of library paraprofessionals and other individuals wanting to work in entry-level positions of the library. From these surveys and interviews came the current Library Technician Program first offered Fall Semester 2001, which involved taking three courses LT 1010 Introduction to Library Services, LT 1200 Public and Information Services for Libraries, and LT 1500 Library Technical Services. These courses were originally only taught as on-site classes at the SLCC, but as of Fall 2002 will be changed to strictly internet classes. The main reason for this change is that they are hoping to appeal to a larger audience by making access to the classes more convenient to those individuals who live farther away or who couldn’t make it to class on a certain day. After successfully completing the program the individual will then receive a Library Technician Certificate. After Becky finished talking she then introduced the instructors who were teaching each course and let them stand and tell us a little bit about their own background and what they expected out of their classes. In conclusion they talked about how to apply to SLCC, enroll in classes, and about the basic computer knowledge needed to complete the courses. For more information we were told to look at the SLCC website www.slcc.edu or email Becky Taylor or one of the instructors. I have their email addresses if anyone would like them, as well as, a brochure for the program. Other topics covered were the employee benefits of completing this program, basically whether or not there would be compensation by your employer for doing so in comparison to those who haven’t. Also discussed was the point that these classes were considered to be elective credits and could possibly go towards other degrees. ULA 2002 - Marcia Cheney The Games Students Play: A Mentoring/Coaching Program for Library Student Assistants This session was presented by librarians from Brigham Young University. They discussed the way they handle training meetings with their student workers, and how to teach them how to work at the reference desk. Though our student workers don’t work at the reference desk, I found this session very informative. The suggestions they gave would work for helping make training meetings fun not only for students, but also for the full time employees. They taught games that could be played to help teach concepts about the library. They suggested doing role-playing, library and department tours, and peer coaching.
ULA 2002 - Cheryl Walters Technical Services Round Table membership meeting at ULA 2002, Thurs, May 2, 3:15 - 4 pm. Present: Cheryl Adams, Erminia Chao, Shannon Hoffman, Mavis Molto, Cheryl Walters, Monyee Yip Discussed ideas for programs and activities for coming year. All agreed that we should try to sponsor some NACO training (Name Authority Cooperative Program), perhaps two sessions, one in Logan and another in Salt Lake City. These would be 3-day sessions that would prepare libraries to become contributors to a proposed NACO funnel for the Utah/Nevada/Idaho area, maybe called the Mountain West funnel. This funnel would allow regional libraries to contribute name headings to the national authority file. Also, some of our round table members are interested in somehow focusing more on serials. Cheryl W. will discuss this with ULA Board to see what the possibilities are. Some possibilities that come to mind are forming a discussion or interest group for Serials while another possibility would be forming a separate Serials Round Table (this might be problematic).
Page last updated July 2002. |
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