This presentation was provided by Nathan Putnam of OCLC during the NISO Virtual Conference "Metadata and Discovery: Quality is Key." The event was held May 17, 2023.

1. This Is Today’s Metadata
Quality
Nathan B. Putnam
Director, Data Quality & Governance
OCLC
Metadata and Discovery: Quality Is Key
NISO Virtual Conference | 17 May 2023

2. Photo by Tolu Olubode on Unsplash
Yesterday
Photo by fauxels: on Pexels
Today
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Tomorrow

4. The foundation of quality
Photo by Tolu Olubode on Unsplash
Out with the old,
in with the new
Unlike other tech losses, let’s
build on what we have

5. All the history

6. No day like today
Photo by fauxels: on Pexels
Entity
representation

7. Words matter
To instruct a path toward
reparative and inclusive
description
Experts, community members,
practitioners, the Shift
Collective, OCLC
https://oc.lc/reimagine-workflows-report
What
Who

8. Language is powerful. It conveys meaning, framing,
and sets intentions. …[We]…have tried to use language
that is accurate and respectful, but words are imprecise
and, in many cases, may not adequately communicate to
every reader in every context what we wish to say.
Together, with the advisory group, we spent much time
and discussion struggling to come to a consensus for a
range of terms used in this agenda, exemplifying the
challenge of…changing descriptive practice itself.

9. For example, although words like “acknowledge” and
“repair” are used in discussions…these terms are imperfect.
…acknowledgment and apologies are not substitutes for
redress, and that “repair” implies that you are fixing
something that was fine before. [We] acknowledge the
inadequacy of language, but we use the imperfect
words…to move on to the work at hand. We encourage
readers to adapt the ideas presented in this report, using
language that is meaningful and appropriate.

10. Photo by Tolu Olubode on Unsplash
Yesterday
Photo by fauxels: on Pexels
Today

11. Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Back to the future
1955 1985 2025
Today

12. Bring on the revolution?
We are at the beginning of another technological
revolution, this time with generative AI — models that
can produce text, images, and more.
How to Avoid the Ethical Nightmares of Emerging Technology (hbr.org)
Reid Blackman, CEO of Virtue, a digital ethical risk consultancy

13. Current search behavior – MARC
Grocery store
Marc Jacobs fashion
Library of Congress MARC

14. Current search behavior – MARC
Grocery store
Marc Jacobs fashion
Library of Congress MARC
Definitions from Oxford Languages

15. Current search behavior – MARC
Grocery store
Marc Jacobs fashion
Library of Congress MARC

16. AI Chat #1
How do I ensure best
practices for reparative
descriptions are met?
✓ Not bad
✓ Needs copy editing
✓ Needs professional review

17. AI Chat #2A
What is needed for a
high quality MARC
record?
✓ Not as good as #1
✓ Outdated information
✓ Needs professional review

18. AI Chat #2A
What is needed for a
high quality MARC
record?
✓ Not as good as #1
✓ Outdated information
✓ Needs professional review

19. AI Chat #2A
What is needed for a
high quality MARC
record?
✓ Not as good as #1
✓ Outdated information
✓ Needs professional review

20. AI Chat #2B
What is needed for a
high quality MARC
record?
✓ Not as good as #2A
✓ Didn’t answer the question

21. More on the way
While generative AI has our attention right now, other
technologies…promise to be just as disruptive. Quantum
computing will make today’s data crunching look like
kindergarteners counting on their fingers. Blockchain technologies
are being developed well beyond the narrow application of
cryptocurrency. Augmented and virtual reality, robotics, gene
editing, and too many others to discuss in detail also have the
potential to reshape the world for good or ill.
How to Avoid the Ethical Nightmares of Emerging Technology (hbr.org)
Reid Blackman, CEO of Virtue, a digital ethical risk consultancy

22. conclusion
insert scary music here
no not really, it’s all good

23. The importance of metadata professionals
continued
quality is key
inventory
cataloging
purchasing
selling
borrowing
circulating
registering
discovering
licensing

24. The technology of 1971
WorldCat
Arcade video game
Cell network
@
Address with @
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_in_science

25. Understanding MARC Bibliographic: Machine-Readable Cataloging (loc.gov) Photo by Centre for Ageing Better on Unsplash

26. Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
Solar system space travel universe - Free Stock Illustrations | Creazilla

27. The importance of metadata professionals
continued
=

28. Let’s not
forget that
there is no
day like
today.
"Multiple colored pencils 07.jpg from Wikimedia Commons by Jonatan Svensson Glad, CC-BY-SA 4.0"