Library Workflow Exchange (http://www.libraryworkflowexchange.org/) is a website designed to facilitate the sharing of workflows and tools for library procedures, such as digital collections and metadata. Started in the summer of 2015 by two metadata librarians in their free time, it currently collects and collates current resources for metadata cleanup, digitization workflows, vocabulary reconciliation, xslt examples, and more. We are interested in developing the site more to help other librarians and library staff take advantage of existing workflows. Anna Neatrour and Liz Woolcott
Library Workflow Exchange: Because we’re all tired of asking “Who has already done this?” (Lightning Talk)
1. Library Workflow
Exchange
Because we’re all tired of asking
“Who has already done this?”
Anna Neatrour
University of Utah
anna.neatrour@utah.edu
@annaneat
Liz Woolcott
Utah State University
liz.woolcott@usu.edu
@lizwoolcott
2. Problem: Everyone needs workflows
Common scenarios:
●Migrating data from one database to
another
●Transforming data from one format
to another
●Cleaning up data
●Managing a library project
Someone, somewhere is doing (almost)
the same thing you are.
3. Problem: Where to find workflows?
Strategies:
●Search the web
●Search conference listings/presentations
●Search publications
●Ask your friend
11. Quick Facts
● Started in Spring 2015
● Soft launch at DLF, fall 2015
● Current Editors are Liz and Anna
o We would like more editors!
12. Areas we (currently) try to cover
●Metadata/cataloging (standards,
cleanup, transformation, reconciliation,
harvesting, etc.)
● Digitization
● Digital exhibit creation
13. We would like to cover
●Everything else!
oPreservation
oElectronic Resources management
oProject management
oLibrary-related tutorials/best practices
oAssessment practices and procedures
oLib-guide tutorial creation/best practices
14. Workflows are not finished products
Workflows are documented brainstorming.
●Dynamic
●Changeable
●Adaptable
●Mashable
15. How you can get involved
1.Submit your workflows!
a.Or point us to someone else’s
2.Be an editor
3.Use (and share) the website
Email, tweet or contact us:
Anna Neatrour
University of Utah
anna.neatrour@utah.edu
@annaneat
Liz Woolcott
Utah State University
liz.woolcott@usu.edu
@lizwoolcott
16. What are your ideas?
●What workflows do you need?
●What are some areas we should
include?
●How’s the website usability?
17. Thank you!
Contact
Anna Neatrour
University of Utah
anna.neatrour@utah.edu
@annaneat
Liz Woolcott
Utah State University
liz.woolcott@usu.edu
@lizwoolcott
Follow the
Library Workflow
Exchange
@LibWorkflowEx
www.facebook.com/libraryworkflowexchange
Editor's Notes
AN
AN So many of the projects we’ve been learning about today will involve workflows - even if you don’t have the exact same technical infrastructure as somewhere else, learning how someone else approached a problem can be a big help when you’re trying to tackle a new project efficiently at your own institution.
AN - You can hunt around, but workflows are often scattered, and sometimes hard to find. I know that I sat through a few presentations at ALA recently where people were talking about a project but glossed over the specific methods and steps they used - when that was what I found most interesting.
AN Not surprisingly some of the words that we’d use to describe our library workflows can sometimes lead to dead ends if we’re trying to find some examples to draw from.
AN
AN
AN
LW - One thing we learned from trying to gather workflows is that they are hidden in strange places. You usually start looking in traditional places like publications and conference presentations, but as Anna mentioned, most publications and presentations don’t include the nuts and bolts - just the overviews. One surprising place we have found really good workflows is personal and institutional blogs. We know there are many “hidden” workflows out there that live on intranets and internal networks. We want to encourage folks to send in their workflows or send us links to them so that others can see their good work
LW - The Library Workflow Exchange can host or link to workflows from a blog-formatted website (Wordpress). We can list it with credit or host it in a “de-idenfitied” format if the owner would like to share it.
LW - Workflows are categorized and also tagged to help facilitate searching/browsing
LW - The Library Workflow Exchange began as an idea in Spring 2015. We “launched” it with branding and advertisement in October of 2015. Currently just Anna and Liz are adding content, but we would like to invite anyone who is interested in helping to gather content or manage the website to contact us. It currently isn’t a time consuming task, currently requiring only an hour or two a month.
LW - Currently we are gathering workflows for metadata and cataloging, digitization, and digital exhibit creation - because that is the areas we focus on at work.
LW - We would like to expand beyond what we currently are collecting. These are some sample ideas, but really, any library workflow or procedures would be welcome.
LW - while we may link to published articles, if we can find them, we are looking for workflows of any kind. Workflows are rarely exactly what you need to start a project - they almost always will need to be adapted to your institution’s unique circumstances. THe idea is to collect workflows that can inspire new or adapted workflows and generate new ideas by through mixing and mashups.
