Another reason may be lack of a specific proposal. A simple call of "hey,
guys, why don't you open up your records to general experimentation?" isn't
going to cause many libraries to say "sure, why not." And even if a few
did, who would do what with them?
Libraries are huge operational entities. They are funded to keep the doors
open (barely) and put materials on the shelves (usually) and make them
(somewhat) accessible through today's version of the catalog, and to serve
the users (routine needs as best they can). Most are funded to cut corners.
They aren't funded to carry out research. Even large research libraries
aren't. It takes grant funding (which few libraries know how to get, and
few are encouraged to pursue by their parent organizations), or it takes the
existence of entities where research is incorporated into the fabric (such
as LIS programs or corporations with a research arm). Or it takes the
relatively rare visionary who works in a library and who knows how to get
the funding and can convince the administration that the project is worth
doing.
These things aren't excuses. They are reasons. Saying "why doesn't
somebody do something?" isn't all that useful. Moving ahead with a specific
proposal that will attract (and reward) participants might be.
Janet Swan Hill, Professor
Associate Director for Technical Services
University of Colorado Libraries, CB184
Boulder, CO 80309
janet.hill_at_colorado.edu
*****
Tradition is the handing-on of Fire, and not the worship of Ashes.
- Gustav Mahler
-----Original Message-----
From: Next generation catalogs for libraries
[mailto:NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Jonathan Rochkind:
Weinheimer Jim wrote:
> Well said. We need radical changes and I see very few radical proposals
coming from libraries. One of the main things--and easiest to
implement--would be for libraries to open up their catalog records for
general experimentation. I'm still not sure exactly why libraries are so
reluctant to do this.
>
I believe the answer to that reluctance is "OCLC".
Jonathan
Received on Mon Sep 29 2008 - 15:02:46 EDT