The way I see it, the trick [is/will be] libraries making their data available for search and discovery via *external* (in addition to improved internal) search tools. Libraries have large amounts of data which need massaging into formats better-suited for cross-talking & cross-walking with the more modern search technologies.
Good luck with your web cataloging project; please remember to plan in a maintenance process and a transition plan for the project - in case there is a change of leadership and/or personnel in the future. As a caution, I'm in the early stages of cleaning out websites cataloged 5+ years ago (many of which don't exist anymore, have moved, or are out of date) and it's slow going :)
-Aaron
:-)'
"Fantasy is true, of course. It isn't factual but it is true. Children know that. Adults know it too, and that is precisely why many of them are afraid of fantasy. They know that its truth challenges, even threatens, all that is false, all that is phony, unnecessary, and trivial in the life they have let themselves be forced into living. They are afraid of dragons, because they are afraid of freedom."
-Ursula K. LeGuin
-----Original Message-----
From: Next generation catalogs for libraries [mailto:NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Grucan, Sally
Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 11:04 AM
To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Subject: Re: [NGC4LIB] Cataloging Web Resources - policies
Dear Ranti: Ultimately, I think putting web resources (except perhaps those you acquire via the acquistions module or have also in print) in the catalog is an exercise in futility. That doesn't mean you may want to do something for a few years but, ultimately, the catalog will not be where your patrons go. That said, you will no doubt pull data from your catalog to present in other venues, but I would argue that makes sense only for non-web resources. Why take the middle step of pulling web content into your catalog first?
As an example of what I've just said: we use Serials Solutions as the basis for our Journal Locator, which in fact covers ALL serial titles/holdings in ALL formats. The web content is transmitted by our Serials Dept., and the rest is pulled from our catalog and transmitted to Serials Solutions. The only e-serials in our catalog are those we pay for directly or those for which we have a print version as well.
Another example: we present web-based indexes and databases via MetaLib. The Serials Dept. grabs descriptive data from the providers and puts it into MetaLib, while subject specialists determine broad subject categories. (Yes, we currently use both Serials Solutions and MetaLib but will be changing to the latter completely.) We continue to put indexes and databases in the catalog, as well, because they are paid for and we often have paper versions, but the catalog records do not have as much descriptive data as those in MetaLib.
We put e-books in the catalog; most are batch loads. We don't have another good option at present, and anyway we have print versions of many of them. We avoid cataloging e-govdocs. (I'd like to avoid cataloging govdocs entirely! There are other ways to find them.)
The question remains as to how to publicize the best of the free web to users. The Cataloging Dept. has policies in place to catalog free web resources recommended by subject specialists, but the subject specialists are not really interested in this approach. They prefer to present such data on their subject webpages. (We will be changing to LibGuides soon.)
We are working on presenting library content and services via Blackboard, as well.
I should mention that we are implementing WorldCat Local, which is another reason not to focus solely on the local catalog. OCLC + Google + Amazon + other content sources could conceivably meet most users' needs. Like everyone else, though, we still want a front end that finds--harvesting where necessary--all institutional resources with one search. No one is there yet. Users may still prefer Google, etc., over anything the library might offer, but we should offer something. We'll see what the eXtensible Catalog can do for us.
We've cataloged our very few printed PDF resources as printed material.
Sally Grucan, Head of Cataloging
Wesleyan University
Olin Library Phone: (860) 685-3845
252 Church St. Email: sgrucan_at_wesleyan.edu
Middletown CT 06459-0108 Fax: (860) 685-2661
-----Original Message-----
From: Next generation catalogs for libraries [mailto:NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Ranti Junus
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 12:18 PM
To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Subject: [NGC4LIB] Cataloging Web Resources - policies
[Sent to NGC4LIB and Web4Lib. Apologies for duplication.]
Hello All,
Michigan State University Libraries intends to place more links to
Web-based content of all kinds in our OPAC (besides the ones we
officially subscribe to.) In order to guide the implementation of this
decision, we need to create policies and consensus on how to proceed.
Does your library have any policies regarding the selection and
cataloging of web resources (web sites, pdf reports, etc.) that you
would be willing to share? I'd be more than happy to compile the list
of responses for you, if you would like to have it as well.
Thank you in advance.
ranti.
--
Ranti Junus, Systems Librarian/Electronic Resources
Web Services
100 Main Library W441
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Received on Wed Jul 30 2008 - 10:19:52 EDT