Building on excellence to improve the future: The expanding role of catalogers in the digital age -Angela Dresselhaus Fast Track Serials Cataloger Indiana University, Bloomington

And four things you won’t see on my resume… Indiana University Master of Library Science (Expected in 28 days) Fast Track Serials Cataloger Oct. 2006 - Current University of Louisville Bachelor of Arts, Music Student Assistant, Aug. 2001 - Mar. 2005 Library Assistant, Mar. 2005 - Oct. 2006

Interbellum Generation Diplomacy Togetherness Joy holidays G.I. Generation Work Trust Birth Frustration Learning Patience Baby Boom Generation death negotiation Celebration Meals Generation X Tolerance Community sorrow optimism Millennial Generation Relationships Farming healing Raised in a multigenerational household

Raised in a multigenerational household

I have a twin sister! Anita Process Engineer & Design Specialist American Printing House for the Blind Drive to set & achieve goals Congenial competition

I have a twin sister!

Drive to set & achieve goals

Congenial competition

Dedicated learner, unlearner and relearner Ethnomusicology Digital Entrepreneurship Flash Animation German Portuguese Spanish American Sign Language Archeology A+/Net+ Microcomputer Applications Basic Cataloging Advanced Cataloging Metadata MODS (Metadata Object Description Schema) EAD (Encoded Archival Description) Metadata & Digital Library Development Breadth Depth

Dedicated learner, unlearner and relearner

Ethnomusicology

Digital Entrepreneurship

Flash Animation

German

Portuguese

Spanish

American Sign Language

Archeology

A+/Net+

Microcomputer Applications

Basic Cataloging

Advanced Cataloging

Metadata

MODS (Metadata Object Description Schema)

EAD (Encoded Archival Description)

Metadata & Digital Library Development

Risk taker Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royonx_Parachute.jpg Maybe not this kind of risk… Volunteer for leadership positions Routinely challenge personal boundaries Often step out of my comfort zone in order to accomplish a goal

Risk taker

Volunteer for leadership positions

Routinely challenge personal

boundaries

Often step out of my comfort zone in order to accomplish a goal

The enormity of the web and the vastness of online resources necessitates a change in the role of catalogers. But how big is the web?

Google in 1998 indexed 26 million pages 1 billion pages in 2000 1 trillion + pages: Now!

“ So how many unique pages does the web really contain? We don't know; we don't have time to look at them all! :-)” - We knew the web was big... 7/25/2008 10:12:00 AM From If Google doesn’t have time to index everything on the web, what are catalogers to do?

Build Partnerships Today’s library staff work with vendors to supply tools to complete our missions. Why? There is simply to much information out there to go at it alone Collaborative endeavors will perpetuate the value of libraries and resources

Today’s library staff work with vendors to supply tools to complete our missions.

Why?

There is simply to much information out there to go at it alone

Collaborative endeavors will perpetuate the value of libraries and resources

Retool for the future Knowledge bases Open URL Batch Loads Other standards & protocols

Knowledge bases

Open URL

Batch Loads

Other standards & protocols

Knowledge bases Knowledge bases are an essential component for providing comprehensive access to electronic materials. Partnering with vendors is an excellent way to leverage outside expertise to further institutional goals. Electronic resources are expensive and we as library staff have an obligation to effectively manage subscriptions to avoid situations where we pay for resources but fail to provide a discovery mechanism.

Knowledge bases are an essential component for providing comprehensive access to electronic materials.

Partnering with vendors is an excellent way to leverage outside expertise to further institutional goals.

Electronic resources are expensive and we as library staff have an obligation to effectively manage subscriptions to avoid situations where we pay for resources but fail to provide a discovery mechanism.

Batch Loads Simply, we need to utilize vendor records to get ubiquitous titles into the catalog. Local cataloging efforts are best focused on collections of distinction, rare or uniquely held items, and materials of local significance.

Simply, we need to utilize vendor records to get ubiquitous titles into the catalog.

Local cataloging efforts are best focused on collections of distinction, rare or uniquely held items, and materials of local significance.

Open URL Provides consistent and fluid linking to our resources In the electronic environment catalogers are responsible for bibliographic and final access to information. The role of the library staff involves responding to access issues and resolving problems. Excellent management of Open URL protocols will aid in keeping patrons within library discovery tools.

Provides consistent and fluid linking to our resources

In the electronic environment catalogers are responsible for bibliographic and final access to information.

The role of the library staff involves responding to access issues and resolving problems.

Excellent management of Open URL protocols will aid in keeping patrons within library discovery tools.

What will happen without functioning Open URL? The next slide is from Peter McCracken’s ACRL presentation, “ KBART: Improving Access to Electronic Resources; plus, Finding the Hidden Side of Seattle”

Other standards & protocols SUSHI (Standardized Usage Statistics Harvesting Initiative) is a protocol standard that help libraries more efficiently collect user statistics. XML based Web Service built on SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) that exchanges data between machines. This eliminates labor intensive human collection methods. Has an extension to work with COUNTER reports KBART ( Knowledge Bases And Related Tools) is striving to create standards for data transmission between stakeholders in the knowledge base supply chain

SUSHI (Standardized Usage Statistics Harvesting Initiative) is a protocol standard that help libraries more efficiently collect user statistics.

XML based Web Service built on SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) that exchanges data between machines. This eliminates labor intensive human collection methods.

Has an extension to work with COUNTER reports

KBART ( Knowledge Bases And Related Tools)

is striving to create standards for data transmission between stakeholders in the knowledge base supply chain

Build on past successes to master new challenges “ The convenience of the public is always to be set before the ease of the cataloguer ...” --Charles Cutter

Roles of catalogers over the years… Charles Cutter FRBR User Tasks to enable a person to find a book of which either the author, title, or subject is known; to identify all the titles held by the library on a given subject or genre, or written by a given author; or to assist in the choice of a book by edition or character Find: “to find entities that correspond to the user’s stated search criteria” Identify: to identify an entity Select: to select an entity that is appropriate to the user’s needs Obtain: to obtain a copy of a selected entity

Charles Cutter

FRBR User Tasks

to enable a person to find a book of which either the author, title, or subject is known;

to identify all the titles held by the library on a given subject or genre, or written by a given author;

or to assist in the choice of a book by edition or character

Find: “to find entities that correspond to the user’s stated search criteria”

Identify: to identify an entity

Select: to select an entity that is appropriate to the user’s needs

Obtain: to obtain a copy of a selected entity

New Roles Electronic resource catalogers need to: Be comfortable with the technologies and tools of all generations of library patrons, Advocate for improvements to the products provided by vendors, Prioritize information needs and continue to catalog high intellectual value resources, Embrace the idea that catalog librarians have increased responsibilities in the access of online materials, Increase awareness and take action to help ensure perpetual access to online materials.

Electronic resource catalogers need to:

Be comfortable with the technologies and tools of all generations of library patrons,

Advocate for improvements to the products provided by vendors,

Prioritize information needs and continue to catalog high intellectual value resources,

Embrace the idea that catalog librarians have increased responsibilities in the access of online materials,

Increase awareness and take action to help ensure perpetual access to online materials.

Catalogers have an excellent history of adapting and seeking ways to better serve patrons. As we move forward, we should build on this sturdy foundation, explore the new areas, and strive to meet and exceed the expectations of our patrons. Thank You!