Recent Trends in Cataloging & Metadata

or...

Moving on from MARC: Embracing Change to Make Library Collections Visible and Enrich the

Patron's Research Experience

Regina Smith Hartley, Nov. 30, 2016

ALCTS Statement on the Value of Cataloging Librarians, June 13, 2006

“Cataloging librarians comprise a small but valuable subset of the library profession that provides critical but sometimes hidden critical but sometimes hidden services to their librariesservices to their libraries.” (emphasis mine)

It's about service. “Cataloging librarians provide customer

service, through their work, to thousands of users who use library catalogs and databases on a daily basis, as well as supporting future supporting future library userslibrary users.” (emphasis mine)

Implications for the Cataloging Librarian

Cataloging librarians are charged with building catalogs for library patrons. However, many patrons will log on to the catalog remotely, and will not seek out a librarian to assist in their search.

An item in a library collection is of little use if it is hidden away digitally or its record does not give enough helpful data regarding contents.

The catalog record is essentially the point of connection between the

patron and an item in the collection.

Any errors, omissions, or bias in records will negatively affect a patron's

access.

Converging Trends,Diane Hillmann. “A Has-Been Cataloger Looks at What Cataloging Will Be... (after

her next retirement).” Presented at ALA 6/29/08 Anaheim, CA.

Catalogers at the support staff level, instead of professional librarians

Catalog records are increasingly selected by machines

Using publisher data for catalog records, instead of the actual item

Use of batch processing for catalog record updates Libraries create cataloging more on primary sources,

locally-created materials, less on books and serials

Hillman said libraries can either choose the Extinction Model or the Retooling Model.

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MARC's Original Purpose

Cataloging record: "Cataloging record" means a bibliographic record, or the information traditionally shown on a catalog card.

MARC records include: 1) a description of the item, 2) main entry and added entries, 3) subject headings, and 4) the classification or call number.

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http://www.loc.gov/marc/umb/um01to06.html

Today's Library Patron

Lives in a rapidly evolving Internet world Expects to find full text, as in Google Books Expects to find things quickly (instantly) Already uses linked data (tags, metadata) Doesn't speak the AACR2 language

(col. ill., unp., s.l., s.n., etc.) Needs more than the data captured on a card

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Prompting the following observation...

“MARC is a senior citizen.”

Sally McCallum, Chief, Network Development and MARC Standards Office. (in Library of Congress BIBFRAME Developments Webinar, ALCTS, Oct. 12, 2016.)

More from Sally McCallum

MARC is “respected and useful, but ready for a younger data exchange mission to take over and fulfill its mission into the future.”

As for the future, McCallum envisions: Library collections will have more web visibility Patrons will have richer experiences as a result

Initiatives Toward Non-MARC Description of Bibliographic Data

FRBR—Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records, first published by IFLA in 1998

RDA—Resource Description and Access, released in 2010, operational in 2013

BIBFRAME—web-based data model to replace MARC 21 standards, using linked data to share bibliographic information with the larger community

Metadata

Metadata's common definition is “data about data.” But there's more to it...

Metadata is 1) constructed information2) developed by people for a purpose or a

function3) often used as a surrogate for the real thing.

Karen Coyle, Understanding Metadata and Its Purpose. Journal of Academic Librarianship v. 31, n. 2, pp 160-163.

Benefits of RDA for the Patron RDA revolves around the user's needs—to

find, identify, select, and obtain. RDA offers the patron many more access

points in the library catalog and includes media, carrier, and content type

Allows for more visual results, such as book covers and contents pages

No abbreviations to muddle through. Real words, like pages, color, illustrations...

RDA records include all the authors responsible for a work. No et. al.

Behind the Scenes Benefits of RDA RDA data is machine-friendly and helps library

catalogs “play nicely” with the Web. Makes use of metadata, linked data Pushes the library collection into the web,

where patrons can chance upon it without having to search out the library catalog.

RDA records are a better surrogate for the actual physical item.

Metadata in RDA records give more context to the user.

Trend—Social Responsibility in Cataloging

Updating subject headings and classifications to remove bias, mistakes, or stigmatism in cultural contexts.

Learning the vocabulary that reflects how a patron would search for that subject, especially in social and cultural contexts.

Modifying how gender is represented in catalog records. ALA abolished controlled vocabulary for gender in RDA, at Midwinter Conference, January 2016.

Promoting Inclusivity in Metadata

“Digital items can be misrepresented when the people cataloging them don't have a background in the cultural contexts from which they originate.”

Hannah Buckland and Rachel Wen-Paloutzian. Diverse and Inclusive Metadata: Developing Cultural Competencies in Descriptive Practices.” ALA 2016 Conference, Orlando, FL.

The Werner von Boltenstern Shanghai Photograph and Negative Collection, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.

a special collection of b&w photographs and negatives from WWII era Shanghai, featuring Jewish refugees.

http://digitalcollections.lmu.edu/utils/ajaxhelper/?CISOROOT=sjrc&CISOPTR=372&action=2&DMSCALE=5&DMWIDTH=387&DMHEIGHT=387&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&DMROTATE=0

ALCTS 2017 Midwinter Symposium

Equitable Access to Collections Scholarly Communication and Diversity Diversity and Visibility in Collection

Development Inclusion and Advocacy in Cataloging and

Description/Knowledge Organization—Emily Drabinski--”The Power of the Catalog”

Diversity and Inclusion

““Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Creating a Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Creating a New Future for Library Collections”New Future for Library Collections”

http://www.ala.org/alcts/events/mw/2017/symposium

Karen Coyle, Understanding Metadata and Its Purpose. Journal of Academic Librarianship v. 31, n. 2, pp 160-163.

Metadata's common definition is “data about data.” But there's more to it...

Metadata is 1) constructed information2) developed by people for a purpose or a

function3) often used as a surrogate for the real thing.

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Benefits for Library Patrons and Researchers

AccuracyAccuracy EffectivenessEffectiveness TimelinessTimeliness

Accurate Service

RDA and Metadata give a much fuller description of the authorship, content, and format of a resource.

Patrons have a better sense of whether a resource will provide the content they need.

Items are described in catalog records within their cultural context, without bias.

RDA records describe collection items in the language patrons understand, taking “what you see” from the item itself.

Effective Service RDA and metadata are internet-friendly and

allow libraries to share their catalog globally. Library patrons can “shop from home” and

better identify items that will be of service to them, and check their availability.

More and more catalogers now spend some time working directly with patrons. More connections, less isolation from patrons' needs.

Metadata is there to help future library patrons and researchers. (a love note to the future...)

Timely Service

RDA and metadata allow the patron to search remotely from home

Patrons can discover the contents of a source without making a trip to the holding library.

Patrons have better access to special collections all over the world.

Less time is wasted tracking down items to see if they are helpful. Metadata can be a helpful surrogate.

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