ALA ALCTS CCS Cataloging Norms Interest Group
ALA Midwinter Program, Boston
Saturday, January 16, 2010, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Grand Ballroom “B”


All are invited to attend the meeting of the Cataloging Norms Interest Group in Boston on Saturday, January 16 from 1:30 to 3:30, held in the Hyatt Regency’s Grand Ballroom “B” featuring four speakers on topics ranging from ETD’s to next-gen catalogs, changing subject headings and perceptions of quality in cataloging.  Full details follow.

1. Morphing ETD Metadata: A Highly Automated Method of Cataloging Electronic Theses and Dissertations, presented by Sevim McCutcheon (Catalog Librarian at Kent State University Libraries)

In Ohio universities, electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) are replacing print as the required format for thesis and dissertation submission. This creates a challenge for librarians in terms of finding the means and time to provide access to yet another type of material. Kent State University has created a highly automated process to load preliminary records for ETDs into its KentLINK catalog as soon as the EDT is available at the OhioLINK EDT Center, thus providing a discovery tool to these resources almost instantly. A Perl program uses the OAI-PMH protocol to extract metadata, modifies and enhances the data, and inserts it into our Innovative Interfaces, Inc. catalog.  Significant effort was made to map the data from ETD-MS to MARC.  Catalogers are notified by email when a preliminary MARC record for an ETD has been created.  Using state-wide standards developed by OhioLINK member libraries, catalogers upgrade the record and contribute the full bibliographic records to OCLC WorldCat, in addition to the local and consortial catalogs. By exploiting technology to input the routine descriptive portion of bibliographic records, staff time is freed to concentrate on the intellectually challenging portion, full subject analysis and classification. This efficiency maximizes user access to Kent State University's intellectual contribution of graduate student research. The process will be explained, and handouts will be available.

2. See also: Next Generation Catalogs, presented by Martha Sanders (Knowledge Management Librarian for the Higher Education Library Information Network Consortium) and Rice Majors (Product Manager with Innovative Interfaces, Inc. )

As a part of its discovery services evolution, the HELIN Library Consortium has begun using the Encore discovery services platform to allow patrons to search the entire portfolio of library collections.   The HELIN Library Consortium has also been a beta partner library for Encore for the past two releases, taking on an important role in refining the tight integration of local authority data to power a “next generation” version of cross references, with authority data leveraged in Encore as related searches.  Topics to be discussed include:
• Aspects of discovery that are empowered by the inclusion of local authority data • The changing role of discovery services platforms • The experience of being a beta partner and working closely with a vendor

This presentation will be a collaboration between a library practitioner from the consortium and a senior staff member from the vendor representing the discovery services platform (Encore).

3. A Study of Catalogers’ Perception of Quality Cataloging, Past and Present, presented by Karen Snow (Library & Information Sciences Ph.D. Candidate, University of North Texas)

Quality cataloging’ is a concept whose meaning is often assumed to be universally understood. However, a survey of library science literature shows that cataloger perceptions of 'quality cataloging' are not always consistent.  The problem this study seeks to address is the ambiguous nature of 'quality' in cataloging and the difficulties in assessing what 'quality cataloging' means due to differing perceptions of this concept among catalogers.  This presentation will cover the history of 'quality cataloging' in library science literature, the reasons for differing perceptions of 'quality cataloging' amongst catalogers, and how we can gain a better understanding of cataloger expectations and motivations by studying these differing perceptions.

4. The Changing Terms in Sears: The Impact of Societal and Cultural Changes on Subject Headings, presented by Sara Rofofsky Marcus (Electronic Resource / Web Librarian, Queensborough Community College, New York)

A presentation on the impact of patron needs and wants on the terminology used in subject headings, particularly Sears subject headings.  Headings change over time, and words / concepts change over time.  It is rare, however, that these changes occur simultaneously, or even near each other.  The authorized headings used in subject headings lists do change, but the rate of change varies in relation to the changes in common vernacular or discover of new concepts.  This presentation would focus on changes in Sears in the areas of LGBT and Judaism, and how these changes have occurred in relation to changing topics.  What do these changes imply about changing society, and are these reflections truly correct.


Rebecca Routh, co-chair
Catalog Librarian
University of Iowa Libraries
Rebecca-routh@uiowa.edu

Michael Kim, co-chair
Head, Cataloging & Metadata Services
University of Miami Richter Library
michaelkim@miami.edu