Interest Group Week happens the first full week of March each year. It consists of 25 discussions and programs over 5 days, all free and open to everyone. Each session lasts one hour. Each year's schedule is posted the first week in February, and registration links are added as information is submitted by the individual interest groups. Recordings are posted the second week in March.
View our full list of interest groups to join year-round discussions and activities.
Core Code of Conduct
Please review the Online Code of Conduct before registering for any IG Week sessions.
March 2023 Program Schedule
All times are listed in Central Time.
Monday, March 6
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10:00am = Copy Cataloging
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Theme: Copy Cataloging before, during and after an ILS migration
Waving goodbye to the ‘boat’: copy cataloging after migration from Voyager to Alma
Presenter: Dan Tam Do, University of Pittsburgh, University Library SystemIn August 2019, the University of Pittsburgh’s Barco Law Library, Health Sciences Library System, and University Library System began the process of migrating from the integrated library system Voyager to another Ex Libris product, Alma, with an implementation date set for July 2020. At Pitt, copy cataloging is a major component of the work that is done to make library resources discoverable. This presentation would describe actions taken by major stakeholders to prepare for changes to how this work would be done. These actions include establishing an internal working group for discussing the Alma Resource Management functional area, preparing training materials and providing training sessions, and making systems configurations prior to implementation. The presentation would then describe differences between Voyager’s cataloging module and Alma’s Metadata Editor that are especially relevant to a copy cataloger. Finally, it would examine how the Metadata Editor’s functions and features have combined with local needs and configuration decisions to inform copy cataloging procedures in Alma. These are the experiences of one library system, with its own cataloging history and data needs, but by providing some general considerations in summary of the above, my hope is that hearing about them will be informative for those who perform a significant amount of copy cataloging in any library for which migration is on the horizon.
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Cataloging and ILS Migrations: How to be adaptable and inclusive at a consortia level
Presenter: Jennifer M. Eustis, UMass Amherst, Metadata UnitOn June 24, 2022, the Five College Consortium (5C) migrated from Ex Libris Aleph to the open source library service platform the Futures of Libraries is Open or FOLIO. The 5C consists of Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and UMass Amherst all in Western Massachusetts Amherst, Holyoke, and Northampton areas. For the 5C, this migration took almost 4 years. That time was spent on carrying out an implementation strategy and spearheading multiple cleanup projects. Post migration, work continues to evolve as FOLIO develops more features and becomes more mature. This is especially true in terms of how we catalog and manage our metadata in FOLIO not only for our individual institutions but also for the 5C as a whole. In this presentation, I’d like to cover why the 5C decided to migrate to FOLIO, what steps were taken for our migration, what is happening post migration, and some lessons learned, all through the lens of cataloging and metadata.
Learning Outcomes
- Attendees will learn how the 5C prepared for the migration to FOLIO.
- Attendees will learn how workflows were changed and are evolving.
- Attendees will learn how we’ve implemented new ways of working on our documentation that includes all staff from the Metadata and Acquisitions units in a way that strives to be open, inclusive, and adaptable.
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Migration tales from a small consortium
Presenters: Euemduan C. Osmera, Metadata Librarian, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha; Angela Kroeger, Metadata Coordinator, University of Nebraska at Omaha; Keelan Weber, Head of Cataloging and Resources Management, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, LawAccording to Oracle's white paper, Successful Data Migration, October 2011, up to 75% of new systems fail to meet expectations. That is quite a high number, and our small consortium felt this was true after we migrated to Ex Libris Alma/Primo VE in 2020! We often see librarians on Alma listservs asking for best practices, tips and tricks to manage data, or what metadata challenges to be aware of before migration. After working in our new system for two and a half years, we have insights based on our failures and successes. In this presentation, we will share warnings and common migration errors so you will not be part of the 75% dissatisfied customers. Be aware and not scared!
Background: We are a consortium of four institutions in Omaha, Lincoln, and Kearney, Nebraska, including a medical and a law library. We migrated to Ex Libris Alma/Primo VE on December 22, 2020, from Innovative Sierra and WMS. We were in silos. We managed our data separately for decades, and now our records are together. It has been a challenge, but we are better together.
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11:00am = Digital Conversion
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The Core Digital Conversion IG is a venue for discussing the digitization, preservation, and access of print, audio, photographic, and moving image materials, as well as the migration, preservation, and access of born digital collections, including web-based and software-based materials.
Our session will include the following presentations:
Creating a Virtual Reality Exhibit – Sharon Whitfield, Electronic Resources and User Access Librarian, Rider University
A presentation on transforming our historic typewriter collection into a virtual reality exhibit using low-cost technology. Our vision is to make the collection more accessible to those who may not be able to come to our campus, but still want to experience the typewriters.--
Digitizing Omaha's Great Plains Black History Museum Archival Collection – Wendy Guerra, Digital Initiatives Archivist, University of Nebraska Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections formed a partnership with Omaha's Great Plains Black History Museum (GPBHM) to digitize a selection of their archival materials and host the collection on our Islandora instance. The partnership was designed as a pilot test for how UNO could partner with local institutions to help facilitate access to their unique holdings.--
From Stacks to Screens: Digitizing Theses and Dissertations at The University of Alabama – Elaine Walker, Scholarly Communications Librarian, The University of Alabama
A presentation describing the process of a current digitization project of approximately 14,000 theses and dissertations at The University of Alabama, per the University Libraries Strategic Plan, to meet action item 2.1.3: “Evaluate, adjust, and streamline the process across Institutional Repository Services, Metadata Services, and Archival Facility Services to ingest the corpus of older University of Alabama theses and dissertations into the Institutional Repository” as part of the objective to “collect, preserve, and promote campus scholarship by capturing scholarly output in an Institutional Repository”. Equipment and workflows, challenges, and lessons learned along the way will all be covered to inform and encourage an exchange of ideas and best practices to those who may be interested in taking on a similar project at their institution. -
12:00pm = Middle Managers
This session was not recorded so that participants could speak freely.
Join us for a casual conversation around practical middle management topics. Have an issue you need help solving? Want to share something that really worked for you as a manager? Bring your questions, concerns, or other discussion items as you will help us set the agenda. A call for discussion topics will also go out ahead of the meeting via the MMIG list. This session will not be recorded so that participants can speak freely.
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1:00pm = Library Leaders & Managers
This session was not recorded so that participants could speak freely.
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We will be hosting a discussion session related to building trust within teams, with two breakout rooms moderated by the co-chairs and with sub-topics voted on by participants. This session will not be recorded so that participants can speak freely.
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2:00pm = Open Source Systems (canceled)
We're sorry, but the Open Source Systems session has been canceled.
Tuesday, March 7
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10:00am = Core New Members
Are you new to Core? Not sure how to get started? Let’s talk! The Core New Members Interest Group will walk you through a macro view of the Division. Join us to explore the various aspects that make up Core, as well as the many ways you can engage with it. We’ll walk through sections, committees, interest groups, and more. Whether you want to participate a little or a lot, Core has something for you!
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11:00am = Linked Data
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The Linked Data Interest Group is pleased to host two presentations related to linked data and related workflows and considerations.
Finding our LODestone: evaluating Linked Open Data for Qualitative Research
The Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts (SDBM) stores observations of premodern manuscripts drawn from over 14,000 catalogs and inventories from around the world as linked open data. This presentation reflects on a six-month experiment in querying and analyzing this data to map classical reception from the thirteenth century to the present. Using this project as a case study, I evaluate the suitability of the SDBM as a dataset: what is this data most suitable for? What would it take to prepare this data for a large-scale research project? From there, the scope turns outward, forging new paths toward using library Linked Open Data as a basis for humanities inquiry.
Presenter: Kate Topham, Michigan State University--
JCricket editor for Share-VDE and beyond: entity management, connection with third parties and cross-domain extensions
Share-VDE enables institutions to embrace the advantages of linked open data. The Cluster Knowledge Base (CKB) of entities is the result of the entity resolution/clustering processes with data coming from different participating libraries with enrichment of external sources. JCricket is the Linked Data Entity editor developed by the Share-VDE community, a tool designed as an entity management system dedicated to curating data/entities living in the CKB, produced by automated processes. The entity editor JCricket opens new forms of cooperation among institutions: the CKB is conceived as an authoritative source with links to other external sources, to increase quality and richness of data and to make the entity management process sustainable. The Share-VDE community is working to create technical and functional links with third parties, such as FOLIO community and Wikidata. Extending JCricket capabilities to cross-domain contexts will allow libraries to enrich their data while participating in the larger Wiki community.
Presenter: Andrea Gazzarini -
12:00pm = Library Facilities & Interiors
This session was not recorded.
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Join a community of library leaders and engage in an open discussion where you can gain valuable insights and support related to your library facilities. Connect and explore the challenges and opportunities of managing library facilities and discover new ideas and solutions. This session will not be recorded.
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1:00pm = Authority Control
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The Authority Control Interest Group is excited to offer 3 presentations geared around the basics of authority control and some ethical considerations behind creating Name Authority Records.
A Brief History of Authority Control
Presented by Charity Stokes, Texas A&M University Library
A quick overview of the development of authority control and what it means for libraries’ physical and digital collections going forward.--
Authority Control Basics
Presented by Becca Wiederhold & Greg Reeve, Brigham Young University
Tailored primarily for a new generation of librarians, Becca and Greg will illuminate the importance of authority control in cataloging and library database management, describe current practices, and introduce attendees to the world of authority control.--
Authority Control and the Occult: Ethical Expectations for the NACO Contributor
Presented by Guy Frost, Valdosta State University
The literature, various email lists, blogs, and other internet sites have covered ethical approaches to cataloging, mostly focusing on the use of recording gender in bibliographic and authority records. But there are other populations that require a cautious approach to adding demographic data. In this presentation, we will explore the nuances of identity with one such group: occultists. -
2:00pm = Cataloging & Classification Research
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Classification from the margins: three alternative classification systems, 1930-1975
Presented by Sasha FrizzellLibrary classification systems frequently fail librarians and patrons because they do not provide space for the depth and breadth of topics both about and created by people within marginalized communities. This presentation explores three classification systems, created between 1930-1975, that were produced by people in and for the communities that they represent. In 1930, Dorothy Burnett Porter, a librarian who helped to build the collection at Howard University, also created a classification system to better represent the works by, about, and for Black people. During the same time period, Alfred Kaiming Chiu was creating the Harvard-Yenching Classification system at Harvard University because the Library of Congress classification system could not accommodate Chinese Language materials and did not have an adequate framework to classify their ancient published resources. In 1974, Brian Deer began his work in creating classification systems that not only improved the depth of the classification but also adjusted the framework of classification to better fit the way Indigenous knowledge is structured to be more intuitive for Indigenous patrons. These examples, some nearly 100 years old, emphasize the need to uplift and champion the voices of people within marginalized communities as we continue to do work toward reparative cataloging and classification.
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A DE&I Cataloging Audit of a Bibliography
Presented by Lisa McCollIn the Fall 2022 semester Lehigh University Libraries DE&I Technical Services team embarked on a cataloging audit of the bibliography for the course "Diversity and Multicultural Perspectives" taught by Professor Dr. Floyd D. Beachum at Lehigh University. Dr. Beachum is the Bennett Professor of Urban School Leadership for Lehigh University's College of Education and generously provided his bibliography for our use. By researching a microcosm of DE&I books related to education we were able to study the quality of the metadata in Lehigh’s catalog for those specific works, Lehigh’s collection holdings in relation to the bibliography, and usage statistics. While this work may not be scalable to perform University wide, it did provide our working group with meaningful data that can now be used to look across our catalog as a whole. With our examination we will enhance the metadata for the works on the bibliography and compare usage statistics after we do. We will compile a list of DE&I relevant authors noted in the edited works for our Collection Development Librarians. Finally, we will use what we learned about the gaps in our metadata to identify potential collection-wide gaps and add to the "Cataloging Habits" document for improved DE&I cataloging practices that we are working to establish. In this presentation I would like to share with attendees the study that was performed, the results, and the action outcomes that will be taken based on this study.
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Critical Cataloging and Critical Race Theory: Implications for Cataloging Practice
Presented by Karen Snow, Anthony DunbarCritical race theory (CRT) stems from critical legal studies of the 1970s, yet can still be a powerful tool for examining current cataloging standards and practice. The use of CRT can be seen as a natural extension of the critical cataloging movement, which seeks to investigate the cataloging ecosystem using critical theory and social justice lenses. This presentation will provide background on CRT and critical cataloging, why they are important to cataloging work, and how catalogers can use CRT to thoughtfully examine and hopefully improve cataloging standards and practices. The presenters will also discuss a recent expansion of CRT in information studies (critical race information theory), as well as how Justice and Authority, cornerstone constructs of CRT and cataloging respectively, can be viewed in a continuum, laying the groundwork for further discussion.
Wednesday, March 8
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10:00am = Project Management
The Project Management Interest Group is pleased to host three presentations on various aspects of project management in libraries.
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Deselecting the Print Collection: Planning and Implementing a Project for New Librarians
Deselecting books is not just about pulling them from the shelves, working in isolation. Deselection requires planning, executing, and completing the project. Staff and students need to be trained, communication needs to be clear, and deadlines need to be flexible. The presenter will talk about the deselection project for the health sciences print collection at their library. As a new health science librarian, the presenter will share what was learned and wish was known before embarking on the project. Points covered will include the need for the project, the plan, the involvement of staff and students, time constraints, creating documentation, and reflections on the project.
Presenter: Alessia Zanin-Yost, Slippery Rock University--
When leadership changes how do you build a project team on the fly?
In 2019, the Georgia Southern Libraries hired a new Dean of the Libraries. The Access Services department was responsible for implementing several new projects and was required to assemble a project team using the new Dean’s foundational approach of shared governance. This presentation will outline how the Access Services department built a project team on the fly. We will outline the criteria used to select members from across two campuses to complete several different projects.
Presenters: Jessica Garner and Kay Coates, Georgia Southern Libraries--
From the Trenches: Experiences in Project Management
What have we learned from projects in the past that can help us in future projects? Looking at stories, anecdotes and case studies from past projects we learn about the challenges, resolutions and success factors. Presentation will be drawn from my career experiences implementing ILS Systems for a variety of libraries such as: the Vatican, National Library of France, US Armies in Germany, other prestigious libraries and a consortium in Illinois.
Presenter: Linda Scott Zaleski -
11:00am = Imagineering + Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Join the Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning IG
Join the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and Imagineering Interest Groups in a free wheeling, open forum. Everyone is invited to discuss their favorite (or infamous) examples of artificial intelligence in books, movies, and television. Everything from evil super computers to benevolent Data is on the table.
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12:00pm = MARC Formats Transition
There's A LOT Still Happening in MARC : Some Updates on MARC Formats
The MARC Format Transition Interest Group is pleased to hold a session on what is happening to the MARC Format while Linked Data initiatives are intensifying and progressing. The IG is fortunate to hear from three groups on their latest activities and reports:By Thurstan Young, British Library about MARC/RDA Working Group*
By Ben Abrahamse, MIT, Co-Chair about PCC Task Group on MARC Simplification for BIBFRAME Conversion**
By Jackie Shieh, Smithsonian, Co-Chair and Steve McDonald, Tufts, Co-Chair about PCC SCA Task Group on Enhancing Metadata and Practices in MARC Bibliographic Records***Whether your institutions will transition to Linked Data in the near future or not, It seems MARC will co-exist in the library world for a long time to come. So what do we need to be aware of in the MARC format's transition?
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*MARC/RDA Working Group
RDA and MARC 21 Development : Report on the MARC RDA Working Group and Wider Community Initiatives
The MARC RDA Working Group was first set up at the end of 2019 in order to consider the issues around implementing changes which arose from the RDA Toolkit Restructure and Redesign (3R) Project. This report provides an overview of the MARC RDA Working Group’s activities and accomplishments over its lifetime between 2019 and 2022. It also summarizes the work of the wider community in making RDA related changes to the MARC 21 formats during this period. The report goes on to consider outstanding issues and the lessons learned from the process of aligning MARC 21 with RDA.
Thurstan Young is a Collection Metadata Analyst working at the British Library.--
**PCC Task Group on MARC Simplification for BIBFRAME Conversion
BIBFRAME to MARC Conversion: the Current State of Play
The PCC Task Group on MARC Simplification for BIBFRAME Conversion was created in February 2022 by the PCC Policy Committee, and given a charge to develop a simplified set of MARC fields to support the conversion of data created in BIBFRAME to functional MARC records. The membership of the Task Group consisted of thirteen cataloging and metadata librarians, representing a variety of institutions and metadata specializations. We examined existing BIBFRAME to MARC 21 conversion specifications, and evaluated their alignment with existing metadata application profiles, as well as the MARC format. The collaborative effort lasted through the summer, and the final report was issued in October 2022. I will share some of the accomplishments of this Work Group, which include a preliminary repertoire of MARC fields suitable for BIBFRAME-to-MARC conversion, as well as the identification of challenges that remain for data conversion from BIBFRAME to MARC.
Ben Abrahamse is a Cataloging and Metadata Librarian at the MIT Libraries.--
***PCC SCA Task Group on Enhancing Metadata and Practices in MARC Bibliographic Records
Linked Data in MARC: Report of the Task Group on Enhancing Metadata and Practices in MARC Bibliographic Records
The Task Group on Enhancing Metadata and Practices in MARC Bibliographic Records was charged in July 2022 to make recommendations on changing descriptive practices and non-access MARC fields to take advantage of linked data. The task group submitted its final report in January 2023. The report is scheduled to be discussed by the PCC Policy Committee in March 2023. The co-chairs will present the background, methodology, and resulting report of the task group.
Steve McDonald is a Digital Initiatives Librarian at Tufts University.
Jackie Shieh is a Descriptive Data Management Librarian at Smithsonian Libraries. -
1:00pm = Dialogue with Directors
This session was not recorded so participants could speak freely.
Join this group on ALA Connect
Library directors and deans are expected to focus on the "big picture" like campus / local community issues or communication with stakeholders, and to ensure that the library has the funds, resources, and staffing to be an effective partner. Recent discussions in the Dialogue with Directors interest group have focused on internal readiness to fill those needs, whether this is succession planning, dealing with hiring challenges, or ensuring that operations can continue. During IG Week, we plan to start conversations about the external environment. What do you know? What do you need to know? If you're a new or wannabe director, what partnerships have you found beneficial, and what conversations have benefited the library and external stakeholders? If you are already a seasoned veteran, let us hear from you about how you're keeping your library relevant to your institution or community.
We encourage directors or those interested in library administration, at any type of library, to join us. This session will not be recorded so that participants can speak freely.
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2:00pm = Consortium Management
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Innovating Through Purposeful Abandonment
Discussion leaders: Kathy Lussier, Executive Director, SAILS Library Network and Stephen Spohn, Executive Director, Ocean State LibrariesPlanned purposeful abandonment is the practice of getting rid of services and programs that no longer create value for your organization. By abandoning those things that never succeeded or have become obsolete, your organization can grow by reallocating resources to new and innovative programs. In this discussion group, consortium leaders are invited to share their experiences with purposeful abandonment? What processes and criteria has your consortium used to determine which programs can be discontinued? How did you overcome resistance to getting rid of longtime services? How were you able to create added value for your organization through purposeful abandonment? Come join us as we discuss this approach to making room for new services.
Thursday, March 9
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10:00am = Metadata
This program will include two presentations on inclusive metadata:
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Public-facing statements on harmful language in library and archival description: recommendations for implementation
Presenters:Katie Dunn Electronic Resources Librarian, University of Wisconsin Law Library
Samantha Garlock Cataloging Specialist of Distinctive Collections, University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Library
Catalog records sometimes include terminology or describe viewpoints that are biased, offensive, or outdated. Library-provided descriptive metadata can also include harmful language, which can – and should – be updated to be more sensitive and accurate without compromising discoverability. In the summer of 2022, several members of the Council of University of Wisconsin Libraries’ Critical Cataloging Interest Group came together to explore creating a public-facing statement on harmful language that may appear in the library’s catalog or other descriptive metadata. The purpose of this statement is to invite library patrons and staff to report harmful language they encounter, while providing context and education about why harmful language may be present, and assure patrons and staff that their concerns will be heard and addressed.
This presentation will describe the characteristics of existing harmful language statements, and our recommendations for libraries interested in creating their own statement. It will also include discussion of our process, and our goals in adding a harmful language statement to the library website and catalog.
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Words Matter: Supporting a Community Archive Through Inclusive Cataloging
Presenters:Elyse Fox Digital Initiatives Librarian, California State University, Sacramento
Lynn Drennan Archives & Manuscript Coordinator, California State University, Sacramento
The Southeast Asia Community Resource Center (SEACRC) Collection at Sacramento State was compiled over a 20-year period by the Southeast Asia Community Resource Center, in Rancho Cordova, California, as a project of the Refugee Educators’ Network. In 2021, a grant project was initiated to digitize over 200 artifacts from the collection – including artwork, handicrafts, toys and dolls, musical instruments, clothing, jewelry, and photographs – which document and bring to life the everyday experiences of recent Asian American immigrants to California.
In this presentation, we will discuss how we employed culturally aware and inclusive metadata practices to describe this collection, ensuring that descriptions demonstrated respect and care for the peoples and cultures represented. This included adhering to a multilingual approach to describing these digitized objects, creating descriptions and providing subject access in native and translated terms, and providing contextual information when necessary.
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11:00am = Role of the Professional Librarian in Technical Services
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The RPLTS-IG is pleased to host two presentations on the role of professional librarians in Technical Services promoting and incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in academic libraries.
That’s the IDEAA* in Technical Services Roles *(Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism, Accessibility)
Presenter: Natalie Lopez, Technical Services Librarian, Academic Senate Co-President, Academic Senate Vice President for Outreach, Crafton Hills College, CAThe Technical Services Librarian roles (plural) continue to evolve with cataloging, staying informed of new cataloging trends, cataloging where students are and effectively cataloging to make resources more discoverable. How do we include windows, sliding doors and mirrors to showcase what we purchase for the collection? How do we reflect/include students in the collection? Join Technical Services Librarian Natalie Lopez for this brief session on the aboutness of the Technical Services Librarian with many IDEAAs (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism, Accessibility) reflected in cataloging, collection development, LibGuides, outreach, student self-published multidisciplinary zine-making and more! The experience is from academic libraries, but these IDEAAs are flexible for those in other library environments!
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A Periodicals Librarian’s Role in Technical Services : Equalizing Access to Library Databases for the Disabled
Presenter: Barbara M. Pope, Reference/Periodicals Librarian and Professor, Pittsburg State University, KSEqual access to library resources and services is vital to the successful learning of all students at higher education institutions. All academic libraries provide access to databases in support of the discovery and scholarship needs of the university or college. However, not all databases are equally accessible. Librarians at Pittsburg State University recognized the difficulties disabled students attending college have accessing resources and wanted to assist students and faculty by learning more and reducing barriers. An additional goal included aligning services with other campus resources geared towards disability services. The Student Disability Services department at PSU assists disabled students and their professors with a number of services, including locating accessible learning materials and providing testing accommodations. The Periodicals librarian looked at the library’s databases for accessibility features, accessibility statements, and created a LibGuide with the information. In meeting with Student Disability Services to discuss how the library could complement the efforts and resources of Student Disability Services, the librarian learned about new avenues for services to students. In addition, the library communicated the information to faculty at local conferences and by email. The efforts have paid off, as the LibGuide has gotten use and librarians have received student inquiries about accessing resources that meet their needs. Come hear about the accomplishments and lessons learned by one Periodicals Librarian increasing the access to library databases for all.
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12:00pm = Instructional Technologies
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Adventures in Alt-Text
Hear first-hand insight from a librarian with over 15 years of experience working with patrons and the accessibility requirement, Alternative Text. Learn what alt text is and where it fits into the realm of accessibility. Leave the session with working knowledge designed to help you better implement alt text at your institution.
Presented by Craig Hayward, Systems and Digital Services Librarian, at the State Library of North Carolina Accessible Books and Library Services
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1:00pm = Publisher-Vendor-Library Relations
This session will discuss experiences with platform accessibility from the perspectives of the library, publisher, and vendor. The speakers will focus on topics such as: (1) evaluating platforms for accessibility at the time of acquisition; (2) the VPAT creation process; (3) strategies for requesting timeline commitments for non-compliant platform features; and (4) accessibility-related challenges faced by libraries, publishers, and vendors.
Accessibility is not just a checkbox; the end goal is to deliver an inclusive experience for users of all abilities. To that end, the objective of this session is to advance our understanding of the organizational obstacles faced by all three sectors with a hopeful look towards better collaboration in pursuit of this shared goal.
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2:00pm = Preservation Administration
The Preservation Administrator's Interest Group will be meeting to discuss the results of the ALA-Core Library Binding Survey (15 minutes). The results of the Core Board meeting vote will also be discussed (discussion will depend heavily upon the outcome of the vote). If you are interested in attending the after meeting about library binding please register at https://tinyurl.com/PAIGLibBind2023.
Friday, March 10
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10:00am = Creative Ideas in Technical Services
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The Creative Ideas in Technical Services Interest Group (CITSIG) is pleased to host presentations that share practical issues and experiences from different vantage points within technical services. Presentations will focus on stakeholder identification and communication related to the management of an electronic resources A-to-Z Database List, the use of Python scripts, OpenRefine and OCLC's Record manager to facilitate cataloging backlog management, and a project-based experience to analyze workflow within technical services that influenced workload leveling and understanding of work across technical services.
Our webinar will include three presentations in succession as follows:
- A-Z Database List Management: Getting started with a policy and workflow – Sonali Sugrim, Electronic Resources Librarian, Queens College Library
- Tools to Tackle Backlogs – Kim Carter (Copy Cataloging Assistant), Taylor Parks (Cataloging Librarian), Peter Rolla (Head of Cataloging & Systems), Loyola Marymount University
- Organizing a Successful Workload Analysis Project – Catherine Sassen (Principal Catalog Librarian), Kevin Yanowski (Department Head, Cataloging & Metadata Services), Sian Brannon (Associate Dean for Collection Management), University of North Texas Libraries
CITSIG looks forward to hosting this webinar. Please plan to join us!
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11:00am = Technical Services Workflow Efficiency
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Program Theme: Hybrid Workspaces and Digital Workflows
Hybrid Workflow Development for Catalog Maintenance: A Case Study
Presented by David Floyd, Chief Cataloging Librarian, Subject Librarian for Judaic Studies, Binghamton University LibrariesCatalog maintenance (sometimes called "cleanup") is a critical component of the long-term development of a library's catalog, albeit one that is not always the central focus. Like many library cataloging units, the COVID-19 Pandemic reduced our cataloging capacity to remote work. As such, catalog maintenance, much of which can be done from any computer connected to our ILS, became a critical component of the unit's daily activities. Since returning to the office in 2021, our institution has increasingly recognized the value of flexibility in work location, allowing projects that can be done while working off-site to remain a priority. Our major ongoing maintenance project is working with large multipart sets that are inconsistently cataloged. Approximately 15% of Binghamton University Libraries' 28,000 musical scores are collections of scores comprising a composer's complete works. Ideally, these large, multi-part, non-circulating collections are cataloged consistently with either comprehensive records for each set, or individual records for each score within the set. Our catalog is inconsistent in this approach and requires remediation. The remediation workflow maximizes flexibility in who participates, where, and when, by siloing the portion of the work requiring data processing and advanced music cataloging skills. This presentation will detail the development of the workflow for standardizing composers' collected works sets, how the project is designed for accommodating hybrid work, and its progress since launching in Summer 2022.
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Meeting Our Needs Virtually: An Efficient Workflow for a Remote Cataloging Internship Project
Presented by Yoko Ferguson, Cataloging and Metadata Librarian, Learning Resources Division, University of the District of ColumbiaA few weeks into the new position, a Metadata Librarian discovered that 500+ print thesis records were only cataloged locally and not in OCLC Connexion nor the Network Zone in Alma, their consortium catalog. This was envisioned as an opportunity for a possible remote cataloging project with a library school student. While hands-on cataloging experience is crucial for cataloging and technical services jobs even at entry level positions, not everyone has the opportunities or resources to land internships at their school. Understanding the experience and skills included on most job descriptions, the work was streamlined as a remote project where an intern could gain hands-on cataloging experience with OCLC Connexion and become familiar with various MARC fields and codes, as well as current cataloging rules, tools, and resources. In addition to cataloging thesis records in OCLC, incorporating the intern’s interests and needs, the librarian also came up with small projects that would be useful and helpful for both the intern and the library, such as reviewing and upgrading the Library of Congress Name Authority Records or manipulating a set of records with MarcEdit. Utilizing online tools already available to them--OCLC Connexion Online Save File, Outlook OneDrive, and Zoom--their current workflow allows them to work, communicate, and meet their needs virtually. This presentation discusses this pilot project that has the potential to lead to another remote project with library school interns who are eager to gain cataloging experience regardless of where and what time zone they live.
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Who, What, Where: Establishing Good Communicative Workflows in a Hybrid Cataloging Environment
Presented by Rachel Turner, Senior Metadata Strategy Librarian, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityCataloging in a hybrid environment can cause difficulties in communication and a breakdown in workflows. Catalogers have long been used to being on site, and therefore being able to pop over to their colleagues with questions about a workflow or cataloging issue. However, in a hybrid environment, when this easy communication method is no longer possible, workflows become siloed; each person may make their own modifications to a workflow to suit their needs, and it is not until the whole department gets together for a meeting that these inconsistencies are discovered, discussed, and sorted out. This leads to confusion, as people being trained on new tasks may be taught different ways of doing things, and over time the catalog becomes inconsistent for users. As someone who came into a hybrid environment from a traditional one, it is my job to come up with methods to identify workflow breakdowns and inconsistencies and find avenues to correct the resulting siloes. This presentation will discuss my experience adapting existing workflows to work better in a hybrid environment.
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12:00pm = Catalog Management
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Call numbers, oh call numbers on ebooks, why have you forsaken us!
Presenters:
David Schuster, Binghamton University, Senior Director for Library Technology and Digital Strategies
Sasha Frizzell, Binghamton University, Catalog / Metadata Management LibrarianILS vendor Knowledge bases (KB) are built in a black box. The quality of the metadata is not the concern of the ILS vendor which then leads to missing data, which impacts discoverability. Comparing records of two ILS vendors KBs has shown a disparity in how they manage metadata. We are evaluating multiple ebook publishers’ data in the KB based on the availability of call numbers and subject headings while looking at resource usage. Exploring ways to improve access by including call numbers and subject headings and discovering the larger problem.
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A survey of description: exploring subject access for diverse communities using Python and R
Presenters:
Brian Clark, Systems and Technical Process Librarian, University of Alabama Libraries
Catherine Smith, Head of Metadata and Archival Processing, University of Alabama LibrariesFollowing the long overdue cancellation of the Library of Congress Subject Heading “Illegal alien” many libraries are assessing options for remediating problematic descriptive language in their catalogs. However, the size and scope of many collections make it impractical, if not impossible, for libraries to manually review the descriptive language for marginalized/minority groups used throughout their catalogs. This is a problem that necessitates a programmatic solution and, to that end, we have developed a method using Python and R to extract and evaluate data from MARC records in order to gain insight into the broader story being told by our catalog’s descriptive language.
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1:00pm = Library Consulting
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Getting Started with Consulting - Getting Started with Consulting will cover the basics in helping you understand the basic issues you need to take into account when launch your consulting business. In particular we will attempt to define Library Consulting, issues you need to consider in setting up your business, tools and technologies you may need to utilize and offer you the opportunity to do a self reflection by filling in a survey assessing your consulting aptitudes that may help you in determining your initial focus and approach to library consulting.
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2:00pm = Cataloging Norms
Theme: Cataloging/Metadata Norms and Workflows
The session will be hosted by the group's co-chairs, Bela Gupta and Shuzhen Zhao.LGBTQ+ Identities, Language, and the Library Catalog
Presented by Karen Snow, Ph.D., Professor, School of Information Studies, Dominican University
Brian Dobreski, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Information Sciences, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Heather Moulaison-Sandy, Ph.D., Associate Professor, iSchool at the University of MissouriRecords in the library catalog often contain terminology representing identities, especially those of authors, audiences, and subjects. Accurately and sensitively capturing the identities of individuals or groups of people using controlled vocabularies can be fraught with difficulty, however, leading catalogers to assign subject terminology that may be harmful, offensive, and/or incorrect. A recent study conducted by the presenters sought to further explore the pitfalls and potentials for controlled vocabularies in representing a diverse and often marginalized group of identities, those of LGBTQ+ individuals and groups. This study examined the coverage and overlap of LGBTQ+ identity terms in three controlled vocabularies: Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), Library of Congress Demographic Group Terms (LCDGT), and Homosaurus, a new linked data vocabulary of LGBTQ + terminology designed to represent identities and concepts from the perspective of this community. This presentation will provide the results of that study, as well as preliminary data of a follow-up study that includes interview data with members of the LGBTQ+ community about the language they use to find LGBTQ+ resources in library catalogs.
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Culturally-Rich Name Authority Records in RDA for Puerto Rican Artists
Presented by Dinah M. Wilson Fraites, Cataloging Librarian, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus
This presentation will explore the creation of culturally-rich metadata for name authority records in RDA for Puerto Rican artists. The creation of name authority records for Puerto Rican artists stems from the need to support metadata creation in ongoing digitization projects led by the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, that focus on preservation and access of unique Puerto Rican and Caribbean Studies collections. As a librarian, my role is to ensure that metadata creation follows standards and best practices, including the use of controlled vocabularies and authorized forms of names. One of the collections that is being digitized is the Puerto Rican Art Catalogs Collection. However, Puerto Rican artists are not well represented in the Library of Congress Name Authority File. Many artists do not have authority records or the records that are available lack important information. Authority work is needed to provide visibility and access to resources related to Puerto Rican arts. The Library System of UPR-Río Piedras is a member of the Library of Congress Name Authority Cooperative Program (NACO) and creates authority records that are added to NAF. This presentation will discuss the following aspects:- RDA elements that were included to enrich authority records for Puerto Rican artists
- Cultural and political considerations when registering attributes like field of activity (372) and occupation (374)
- Recording of gender-related attributes
- Recording of relationships (use of field 373 or fields 5XXs)
- Recording of additional identifiers in field 024 (VIAF and Wikidata)
This presentation aims to encourage community discussions regarding challenges and best practices for the creation of culturally-rich name authority records.