On 5/24/07, Jonathan Rochkind <rochkind_at_jhu.edu> wrote:
> schools, which are the logical place to house such research, but library
> schools seem entirely uninterested in real world library metadata issues
> these days.
>
> Jonathan
>
I don't know about that Jonathan. Jane Greenberg @ UNC immediately
pops into my head as a LIS professor doing great metadata research.
Ditto Marcia Lei Zheng @ Kent State.
Maybe it's fairer to say that the folks running library schools are
still figuring out how to teach real world library metadata issue.
I think the real challenge may be figuring out how to turn research
into practice
best,
Laura
> MULLEN Allen wrote:
> > Ed Speer raises some very pertinent questions regarding maintenance of
> > authority data. In addition to discussing these, I'd suggest some
> > action on the part of the cataloging community.
> >
> > There is an opportunity now to demonstrate that a collective social
> > network of librarians can develop and maintain an authority data set for
> > the series work that LC is no longer doing and that PCC libraries have
> > not addressed beyond series they encounter if and when these libraries
> > want to trace them (for those PCC libraries that choose to trace series
> > - some, like LC, have decided not to) or that libraries feed to them (if
> > the PCC library staff are open to it and have the resources to do this
> > work on behalf of other libraries). Clearly, there is a perceived need
> > among catalogers and, in public libraries at least, among reference
> > staff.
> >
> > I'd like to suggest that a wiki might be constructed in such a way that
> > library staff (and others if they are interested) can enter and edit
> > data fields for series authority data. The idea is that anyone can
> > contribute a new heading but that the collective wisdom and knowledge of
> > those who know how to construct and document AACR2 series name headings
> > and tracings would maintain the integrity of the data. There is a need
> > - I construct new series headings several times a week when they are not
> > on an OCLC record at all or are in a 490 0 field.
> >
> > This (or some variant that is technically possible) could be a model,
> > albeit with all of the attendant committees and task forces and policies
> > and papers that such weighty matters require in the cataloging world (as
> > well as an enhanced "control" factor that Ed Speer aptly points out is
> > necessary), for maintenance of LCSH if and when LC ever lessens or
> > relinquishes its commitment to maintenance of the vocabulary.
> >
> > However, I'm ignorant enough that the technical question of whether said
> > data in a wiki setting could be constructed in such a way to allow
> > export of MARC in a format that can be readily imported into a library
> > ILS is possible. I'm guessing it is but those of you who are export.
> > Certainly, the control fields might be a challenge.
> >
> > If it is possible, let's do it whether it is sanctioned by NACO, ALCTS,
> > OCLC or anyone else. If it is useful, it flies - if not, it crashes and
> > some other solution to the lack of reliable ongoing series authority
> > maintenance for collective use is developed (or, as the case is now, is
> > not). Is protestation and a return to individual library
> > decision-making all that catalogers are capable of when faced with
> > changes that lessen what gets handed to them on a tarnished silver
> > platter? I don't think so - don't mourn, organize to take
> > responsibility for what is deemed important.
> >
> > Allen Mullen
> > who is willing to devote some time off-work to helping develop and
> > maintain such a system
> >
> >
> >> The problem for an LCSH sans LC is that controlled
> >> vocabularies have to be *controlled* somehow. Theoretical
> >> rigor with regards to broader/narrower/related headings would
> >> be nice as well, but at
> >> *minimum* there needs to be a set of agreed upon terms.
> >> Otherwise the whole notion of collocation falls apart.
> >>
> >> Do we invest The Power in a new authority (OCLC?,
> >> LibraryThing?) or do we attempt to decentralize? What would a
> >> radically decentralized Controlled Vocabulary look like in
> >> theoretical terms? (no, tag-clouds don't count) Are there any
> >> current examples we could look at for ideas?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Ed Sperr
> >> Digital Services Consultant
> >> NELINET, Inc.
> >> 153 Cordaville Rd. Suite 200 Southborough, MA
> >> (508) 597-1931 | (800) 635-4638 x1931
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
> --
> Jonathan Rochkind
> Sr. Programmer/Analyst
> The Sheridan Libraries
> Johns Hopkins University
> 410.516.8886
> rochkind (at) jhu.edu
>
Received on Tue May 29 2007 - 11:54:22 EDT