This is some NGC4Lib mailing list administratativa.
First, the purpose of the NGC4Lib mailing list is to discuss all things "next generation library catalog". From it's home page one can subscribe, unsubscribe, and access any one of the many archives. [1]
Second, there are about 2,000 subscribers. We are from all over the world. (Wow?!)
Third, I have done a bit of text mining against the list's 2010 archives [2], and I believe the NGC4Lib mailing list needs more balance. It needs more balance in a couple of ways:
1. There are too few people who post the majority of the content. The opinions of eleven (11) people do not, IMHO, fairly represent the ideas and beliefs of more than 2,000. I am hoping these few people understand this and will moderate themselves accordingly.
2. The discussion is too much focused, IMHO, on traditional library cataloging. There is so much more to the catalog than metadata. We need to be asking questions about what it contains, how that stuff is selected and how it gets in there, what the stuff is used for, and how all of this fits into the broader, worldwide information environment. We need to be discussing issues of collection and dissemination, not just organization. In retrospect, I wish I had not used the word "catalog" in the name of the list because I think the word brings along too many connotations and preconceived ideas.
What to do? I'm not sure. Your suggestions sent to me offline or your comments posted on the blog would be greatly appreciated. If I get any input, then I will try to summarize and share the result with the list.
Thank you.
[1] NGC4Lib home page - http://dewey.library.nd.edu/mailing-lists/ngc4lib/
[2] text mining against NGC4Lib - http://tinyurl.com/34g4qvo
--
Eric Lease Morgan
Head, Digital Access and Information Architecture Department
Hesburgh Libraries, University of Notre Dame
(574) 631-8604
Received on Fri Jun 25 2010 - 11:46:50 EDT