Interest Group Week
91传媒
Interest Group Week happens the first full week of March each year. It consists of 30 discussions and programs over 5 days, all free and open to everyone. Each session lasts one hour. Each year's schedule is posted the first week in February, and registration links are added as information is submitted by the individual interest groups. Recordings are posted the second week in March.
View our year-round discussions and activities.
Core Code of Conduct
Please review the before registering for any IG Week sessions.
March 2024 Program Schedule
All times are listed in Central Time.
Click on the name of a group to view the link to the recording.
Monday, March 4
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10:00am = Metadata
The Metadata Interest Group is pleased to host three presentations related to metadata in shared digital libraries.
Title: Describing Our Members, Ourselves: Maintaining a Shared Controlled Vocabulary in Explore Chicago Collections
The Chicago Collections Consortium hosts digital images and archival description collections from over 60 member institutions in Explore Chicago Collections, its online portal. In this session, members of the organization’s Controlled Vocabulary Committee will discuss the process of building workflows and collaborating with other committees to maintain the portal’s shared controlled vocabulary from the proposing of new terms and term categories, the process for accepting and changing terms, as well as communication about vocabularies with users and members.
Presenters: Jessica BrodeFrank (University of Illinois at Chicago), Kate Flynn (University of Illinois at Chicago) Erin Matson (Chicago History Museum), and Gretchen Neidhardt, (Northwestern University)
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Title: Creating and Sharing Date Metadata
Date metadata can be challenging with ambiguous and uncertain dates while trying to tackle platform limitations and facilitating searching and browsing. This session includes tips for creating and sharing date metadata with the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) while considering nuances with specific platforms, including Samvera Hyrax, DSpace, and CONTENTdm. Guidance includes ISO 8601, the Extended Date/Time Format, and the W3C Date and Time Formats.
Presenter: Annamarie C. Klose (The Ohio State University Libraries)
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Title: Developing a Metadata Application Profile Supporting Interoperability, Research, and Data Harvesting for a Digital Library of Music Sources
The Sounding Spirit Digital Library (SSDL), an initiative of the Sounding Spirit Collaborative at Emory University’s Center for Digital Scholarship, is a thematic research collection of 1,300 digitized books from seven contributing institutions. This presentation will discuss the development of the SSDL Metadata Application Profile (MAP), which supports the creation of robust metadata. The profile expands the project’s reach by including fields corresponding to the requirements of three data sharing partners as well as fields of interest to researchers.
Presenter: Jesse P. Karlsberg (Emory Center for Digital Scholarship and Emory University Department of Music)
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11:00am = Preservation Administration
This session was not recorded.
We will be discussing topics related to the preservation community and having a brief business meeting.
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12:00pm = Publisher-Vendor-Library Relations
The Publisher, Vendor, Library Relations Interest Group exists to foster communication between these three integral parts of the Library supply chain, always appreciating that economic or social pressures can sometimes introduce negativity into these relationships. In this IG Week session, we would like to offer the Arbinger Outward Mindset perspective on how we can more intentionally communicate with each other, transforming inward- to outward-focused mindsets and offering tools to better communicate with each other. This session will include an overview of the Arbinger approach as well as practical applications of the Outward Mindset patterns on common blocks that appear between Publishers, Vendors, and Libraries, which you can also apply to your everyday lives.
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1:00pm = Book and Paper
Live Long and Repair: how the Library of Congress cares for its Comics
Presenters
Lily Tyndall – General Collections Conservation Section
Meg Halsband – Serials and Government Publication Division
Lena Sebakijje – Serials and Government Publication DivisionPresentation will be followed by moderated discussion by Karen O'Connell (ASLIB) on future topics for Book and Paper Interest Group Presentations.
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2:00pm = Promoting Preservation
This session was not recorded.
NEH Grant Updates: Cathleen Tefft, Senior Program Officer Division of Preservation and Access National Endowment for the Humanities. News and updates from NEH including recent changes to the Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions.
Sustaining Preservation and Digitization Professionals in Ohio: Adam Wanter, Digital and Special Collections Archivist, MidPointe Library System, Virginia Dressler, Digital Projects Librarian, Associate Professor, Kent State University, and Miriam Nelson, Interim Dean of Collections and Digitization Strategies and Head of Preservation, Ohio University. For decades Ohio Preservation Council (OPC) and the Ohio Digitization Interest Group (OhioDIG) have been serving allied professions following different models. Over the last year OPC and OhioDIG have agreed to collaborate to find ways to be stronger and more sustainable volunteer organizations, while preserving each group’s autonomy. Members of the two organizations will discuss this process and the opportunities they see in the overlap between the two communities.
An Open Conversation on the Future of PPIG: Co-Chairs, Beth Doyle and Miriam Nelson. What is the best way our interest group can serve members? Does “Promoting Preservation” capture the spirit of what we want to do? Is the name distinct enough from Preservation Outreach and clear to prospective members? What excites IG members about the future of the section?
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3:00pm = Instructional Technologies
Different Schools, Different Tools: Approaches for Teaching in Multiple Modalities Across a Large Academic Library System
Featuring librarians from undergraduate, arts, and medical libraries at a large institution, this panel discussion showcases ways librarians meet student learning needs and preferences in different ways with the same technological toolkit. The session will start with brief presentations from each librarian and progress into a discussion sharing strategies and lessons learned from creating inclusive, engaging learning experiences using tools like Zoom, LibGuides, Google Docs and Forms, campus learning management systems, and video tutorials for students ranging from traditional undergraduates to online and in-person professional programs.
Presenters: From Yale University: Caitlin Meyer, Research and Education Librarian; Kelly Blanchat, Undergraduate Teaching and Outreach Librarian; and Tess Colwell, Arts Librarian for Research Services
Tuesday, March 5
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10:00am = Cataloging & Classification Research
Library of Congress Subject Headings: A Post-Coordinated Future
Presented by: Amy Phillips, Cataloging Policy Specialist, Policy, Training, and Cooperative Cataloging, Library of Congress, based on co-authored article with Nancy Cooey
Results of a request from Library of Congress leadership to assess pre-coordinated versus post-coordinated subject cataloging. It argues that the disadvantages of pre-coordinated subject strings are perennial and continue to hinder progress, while the advantages of post-coordinated subject cataloging have expanded, resulting in new opportunities to serve the needs of catalogers and end users alike. The consequences of retaining pre-coordinated headings will have long-term impacts that heavily out-weigh the short-term challenges of transitioning to new cataloging practices. By implementing post-coordinated, faceted vocabularies, the Library of Congress will be investing in the future.--
Community College Librarians’ Research and Publication Practices
Presented by: Linda Miles, Librarian II, Open Educational Resources Librarian, Michigan State University Libraries
Robin Brown, Professor and Head of Public Services, Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York
Community colleges educate an estimated two-fifths of United States college students. Yet community college librarians do not disseminate enough research to enable their colleagues and their libraries to reach their potential. Little is known about what types of supportive measures might increase productivity. The authors collected quantitative and qualitative survey data, finding that a slight majority of participants conduct research, but less then one third of those who research share their findings. Key challenges include lack of time, lack of funding, and lack of confidence. A new baseline understanding will provide a foundation for initiatives to support increased representation. -
11:00am = Digital Conversion
Please join the Digital Conversion Interest Group for the following presentations. After each session, the audience will be given an opportunity to ask questions and engage in brief discussion.
Title: How to move a digitization studio, in a few (!) easy steps
The Digital Production Group at the University of Virginia was given the opportunity to move its workspaces into the newly renovated main library. This space improvement project allowed for selection of color scheme, lighting, as well as the relocation of equipment. This included 4 medium format camera workstations, a Cruse Scanner, and an Atiz Bookdrive scanner. This talk will cover the pursuit of the perfect studio space, relocation of staff, management of the move, and lessons learned.
Presenters: Christina Deane (University of Virginia) and Eze Amos (University of Virginia)--
Title: Developing a Mass Digitization Workflow for Negatives
In this presentation, members of the Digital Initiatives Team at Brigham Young University will discuss how they developed a mass digitization workflow for negatives for the purpose of digital public access. The presentation will include discussions on how to grapple with FADGI, the scale of the collection, the needs of the curator/public, digital preservation concerns, and finalizing decisions that determine the digitization process. There will also be details on the digitization process that highlight using Phase One and Digital Transitions equipment.
Presenters: Marissa Bischoff (Brigham Young University) and Abby Beazer (Brigham Young University) -
12:00pm = Library Facilities & Interiors
This session was not recorded.
Join a community of library leaders and engage in an open discussion where you can gain valuable insights and support related to your library facilities. Connect with fellow library leaders, explore the challenges and opportunities of managing library facilities, and discover new ideas and solutions.
Don't miss this opportunity to connect with peers, share experiences, and learn from others in the field.
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1:00pm = Faceted Subject Access
Title: Converting our digital collections’ legacy non-faceted subjects; or, how we learned to stop worrying and love the facets
Presenter: Rebecca Saunders, Cataloging and Metadata Librarian, Western Carolina University
Abstract: The Southern Appalachian Digital Collections (SADC) platform, a shared digital collections platform formed from a partnership between Western Carolina University (WCU) and the University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA), was launched in 2022. Our two institutions’ legacy data had different levels of vocabulary control, and we began planning vocabulary remediation projects soon after the migration to our shared platform. Both institutions’ legacy data use pre-coordinated, subdivided subject vocabularies. Our subject metadata specialists were committed to retaining pre-coordinated subject strings until we began to explore ways to use filters for faceted searching in our new system. With the understanding that subdivisions can inhibit discovery in systems that rely heavily on search filters, our long-standing dedication to non-faceted subjects faded. In 2023, we initiated a large-scale project to convert our extensive non-faceted vocabularies into faceted vocabularies. One of our primary concerns when first considering a transition to faceted vocabularies was the potential loss of the information invested in our non-faceted vocabularies’ subdivisions.This presentation will provide an overview of the methods we use to separate geographic and form subdivisions from pre-coordinated subjects and add them as new values to other elements of our metadata records to enable faceted searching without any loss of data. Many aspects of our procedure are predicated on tools available in our content management system (CMS) Qi, which was developed by the independent company Keep thinking and is unique in the library world. While our specific workflow and CMS are distinctive, general principles for the procedure to convert non-faceted subjects will be shared that will be applicable to attendees using other systems. The presentation will also touch on the improvements in discovery that our progress in converting to faceted vocabularies is yielding.
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Title: Conducting a Pilot for Library of Congress Demographic Group Terms
Presenter: Elizabeth Hobart, Interim Head of Cataloging and Metadata Services, Penn State
Abstract: The MARC field 386 allows catalogers to record demographic group terms for creators and contributors. Catalogers may use terms from various controlled vocabularies in this field, including the Library of Congress Demographic Group Terms (LCDGT). As both the MARC field 386 and LCDGT are relatively new, so far, only a few libraries have begun adding this field to catalog records. The MARC field 386 shows promise for improving discovery of works by diverse creators but also has some potential problems, including risk of privacy violations, outing, and othering. To better explore possible applications for this field, Penn State conducted a pilot to add demographic group terms to 500 catalog records for materials by diverse creators. The pilot highlighted both the potential for improving discovery but also problems that will need to be addressed before implementing more broadly. This presentation will discuss the process for conducting the pilot and summarize outcomes and next steps.--
Title: Looking for Literature in the Library
Presenter: Kelley McGrath, Metadata Management Librarian, University of Oregon
Abstract: The SAC Subcommittee on Faceted Vocabularies has embarked on a project to develop logic and a mapping for identifying bibliographic records for literary works and either automatically adding or suggesting appropriate Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms (LCGFT). This presentation will describe the initial process of creating a list of Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) used to describe literature. It will also examine some of the issues encountered so far, as well as some bigger picture challenges facing the project. -
2:00pm = Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning in Libraries
This session was not recorded.
Come join the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI & ML) Interest Group for a roundtable discussion about how AI & ML has been talked about or approached at your institution. The interest group's co-chairs will help guide the discussion and provide attendees with resources about AI/ML broadly, and within the context of libraries and other cultural memory institutions.
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3:00pm = Library Storage
Please join us as the Library Storage Interest group presents two brief discussions from library storage professionals on 1) deduplicating high density storage collections and 2) entitled "So you have been given an old coffin factory as a library storage facility. Now what do you do?" We will have time for questions at the end.
Wednesday, March 6
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10:00am = Electronic Resources
Please join the Electronic Resources Interest Group for two presentations related to strategic management or planning for electronic resources.
Collaboration- The Name of the Game
Outreach is not typically considered necessary for ER&L librarians as most of our work is technical. However, this presentation argues that collaboration is the name of the game! This presentation will discuss the importance of open, focused collaboration for electronic resource librarians to bolster the library's presence within their organization through inter and intra-departmental communication. This librarian is uniquely situated to reignite outreach and connectivity between fellow librarians, faculty/staff, students, and organizational stakeholders as users navigate the ever-changing world of electronic resources and encounter technical issues. Following this session, participants will be able to understand the importance of outreach as an electronic resource librarian as communication between library departments, faculty/staff, students, and unexpected stakeholders of library resources all result in more library buy-in.
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Assessing E-journals Helps Maximize Efficiencies
“Maximize efficiencies” is a key strategy in PSU’s Lamson Learning Commons Strategic Plan. This strategy has a range of interpretations, but for electronic resources, Librarian Alice Pearman is focused on maximizing dollars spent while also meeting users’ needs. After several years of cuts, there was concern that Lamson’s electronic journal collections were not meeting the needs of all patrons. Collection assessment is a critical first step to understanding how best to maximize the current budget. Alice will discuss how assessing electronic journal subscriptions is helping the library understand where there may be gaps. With limited tools available, the work is challenging, but rudimentary data visualization is already demonstrating which subject areas need more attention. It was quickly clear which subject areas were lacking library support. Expect a candid discussion detailing the work involved with assessment planning, creating an inventory, surveying faculty, and conducting an environmental scan.
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11:00am = Cataloging Norms
Title: Cataloging Comics with the GNCRT Best Practices Guide
Presenter: Jessica Hayden, Coordinator of Technical Services, Berea College
Abstract: Comics and graphic novels are receiving increased attention in library collection development. While these formats have a long history in public libraries, they have now become popular resources in academic and school libraries too. Whether you’re familiar with comics or new to the format, there are several cataloging difficulties library staff encounter that are unique to these materials. In 2022, the Metadata & Cataloging Committee of the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table (GNCRT) published its Best Practices for Cataloging Comics and Graphic Novels using RDA and MARC21. This document, freely available online, provides extensive cataloging instructions and record examples covering comics, graphic novels, manga, graphic non-fiction, and other sequential art resources. This session will provide a very broad overview of the document and will provide examples of how the guide may be used to aid pre-cataloging decisions and inform the cataloger about more difficult concepts in the description of these formats. This session is targeted toward technical services personnel and others involved in acquisition and description of comics and graphic novels. The information provided will be useful to staff from academic, public, school, and other libraries who want to ensure comics and graphic novels are described in ways to best facilitate discovery and meet DEI objectives of their institution.--
Title: The Magic School Bus Explores a Streaming Video Cataloging Policy
Presenter: Katherine Peterson, Metadata Librarian and Electronic Resources Cataloger, University of Iowa
Abstract: Streaming video is one of the newest additions to library collections. They provide more accessible viewing options for patrons and are an additional learning tool. To maximize access and provide reliable usage states, quality streaming video records are essential. However, because streaming video resources are newer and more complex than other library resources, there is less standardization in cataloging procedures. Records found in shared repositories may not include accessibility information to best serve users or they may not be provider neutral to best serve catalogers. To address these challenges, Peterson created a policy on cataloging streaming video at the University of Iowa. In this presentation, she will share the highlights of this policy and discuss implementation. Audience members can expect to gain ideas that improve the cataloging of streaming materials in their library.--
Title: Hepburn Romanization Revisited: Two Japanese Romanization Styles and Discovery
Presenter: Kumiko Reichert, East Asian Cataloging Librarian, Indiana University
Abstract: Japanese romanization history begins in the late 19th century and keeps evolving in two styles, one of which is the Japanese-government preferred, the other of which is
English-speaking-country preferred. The latest revision of the 91传媒-LC Japanese Romanization Table (2022) adopts these two styles: ISO 3602 and Hepburn romanization. Regardless of the adoption, a lot of Japanese romanization appearing in library metadata does not make good sense to English speakers because it is “phonologically incorrect” for them. From my understanding, the table is based on ISO 3602 to a great extent, with some Hepburn utilized. In the real world, Hepburn romanization is prevalently used in personal, corporate-body or geographic names. Therefore, as far as Japanese romanization is concerned, the real-world scenario sometimes contradicts what the library metadata displays. In this proposed presentation, the past literature and research on Hepburn romanization in library metadata as well as the history of Japanese romanization and the 91传媒-LC Japanese
Romanization Table will be reviewed and examined. In addition, the research goals and plans, such as local and OCLC data extraction and analysis, and future research prospects will be shared with the participants. The research outcome will shed light on the best approach to Japanese romanization for libraries, in order to improve discoverability for a variety of users and user needs. -
12:00pm = Dialogue with Directors
This session was not recorded.
Succession or Continuity Planning
Succession planning is an important part of being a director. If this is on your mind – or already on your plate – come and share your experience with the Dialogue with Directors Interest Group. Some questions that we will discuss include the need to discuss continuity planning (budget cuts, retirements, strategic planning etc.); the process of developing a succession plan; and determining what you need to know to guide you.
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1:00pm = Linked Data
The Linked Data Interest Group is pleased to host two presentations related to linked data and related workflows and considerations.
Democratizing SPARQL: WikiframeVG's Journey Towards Inclusive Linked Data Exploration
In the realm of linked data, the challenge of mass adoption persists due to barriers hindering users from delving into technologies like SPARQL and limited visualization tools. Addressing these concerns, Wikiframe Visual Graph (WikiframeVG) emerges as a transformative solution, aiming to bridge the gap and empower individuals keen on visualizing Wikidata. In this talk the authors seek to spotlight WikiframeVG as an open-source initiative and catalyst for community-driven knowledge exploration. By fostering a community of practice around WikiframeVG, we aim to democratize linked data visualization, breaking down barriers to entry. Participants will gain insights into collaborative efforts, SPARQL template-based approaches, and the communal exploration of Wikidata's organized sprints and conclude with a demonstration of WikiframeVG in action.
Presenters: Darnelle Melvin, Cory Lampert, Andre Hulet, University of Nevada Las Vegas
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Entity Metadata Management API: A Specification for Communicating Changes to Entity Descriptions
The Entity Metadata Management API (EMM API) is an effort with the LD4 community to define a specification for communicating changes to linked data entity datasets so that data consumers are aware of new, updated, and deprecated entities as the dataset evolves over time. Understanding these types of changes is critical for a number of use cases including local caching of labels and caching of full datasets. The specification builds on the widely adopted W3C ActivityStreams specification with usage patterns appropriate for entity datasets. This presentation will provide an overview of the use cases and specification. We will also share examples of early implementations (including the Library of Congress, e.g. id.loc.gov subjects), demonstrating the specification is ready for adoption.
Presenters: Steven Folsom, Simeon Warner, Cornell University
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2:00pm = MARC Formats Transition
Session Title: MARC and Its Transition in the Linked Data Environment
The MARC Formats Transition Interest Group (MFTIG) is pleased to hold TWO sessions, featuring SIX stellar presentations to explore the current state of the MARC formats and their transition in the linked data environment.
We will hold "Pt.1: MARC & BIBFRAME" on March 6 and another session after the IG Week as "Pt.2: MARC to Linked Data - more possibilities" on March 15 from 1:00 - 2:00pm CT. .
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PART 1 "MARC & BIBFRAME" on March 6
Title: Creating a Hybrid Sustainable Environment for MARC and BIBFRAME
Presenter: Adina Marciano, Product Manager for Linked Open Data at Ex LibrisSummary: As libraries continue to move towards a linked open data (LOD) environment, it has become increasingly important to incorporate this approach into library management systems. Ex Libris is currently working with the LOD focus group to implement LOD in Alma's production environment while supporting both MARC and BIBFRAME in a hybrid environment. This presentation will discuss the different steps we are taking to support this, including:
- Using a unified record format allows users to choose their preferred metadata formats.
- Expanding the functionality of linked open data in MARC records enables a seamless transition.
- Addressing the challenges of working with authority management LOD systems with MARC records and scalable APIs.
- Understanding the conversion between BIBFRAME and MARC: The challenge of how BIBFRAME and MARC are not always compatible and what solutions there are.
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Title: MARVAlous: LC’s BIBFRAME Journey with FOLIO
Presenters: Paul Frank, Cataloging Policy Specialist, Library of Congress & Doug Loynes, Product Owner, EBSCO Information ServicesSummary: The Library of Congress (LC) is embarking on the next phase of adopting BIBFRAME into its core cataloging workflows with its planned migration to EBSCO FOLIO in calendar 2025. EBSCO is developing a new module for FOLIO that will support the creation, management, and curation of linked data resource descriptions. The module incorporates a refactored version of the MARVA BIBFRAME editor – developed by the Library of Congress – as its front end interface. Additionally, the Library of Congress’ deployment of FOLIO will necessitate supporting dual cataloging workflows. The purpose of this presentation is to share LC’s experience as a participant in FOLIO’s pilot project and to discuss operational and policy considerations for developing a robust data governance feature, that allows MARC and BIBFRAME to coexist.
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Title: Transition Complications
Presenters: Nate Trail, Linked Data Specialist & Jodi Williamschen, Metadata Standards Specialist, Library of CongressSummary: This presentation will be divided into two parts. Part One will describe Library of Congress’s concept of a governing record as LC transitions from MARC to BIBFRAME. As the Library’s future system will be a dual format system (MARC and BIBFRAME), the governing record policy determines whether the MARC bibliographic description or the BIBFRAME bibliographic description is the principal one for any individual bibliographic description in the system. Whichever format for a given record is deemed to be the governing one, the other is treated as a read-only derivative of the former. While this is a logical and relatively straightforward idea, it has nonetheless raised a number of additional questions, especially around bulk edit or bulk update operations. This presentation will describe LC’s progress with respect to its governing record policy, and it will illustrate a few of the challenges with it as LC transitions to a dual format system. Please note that this is a local system policy and should have no bearing on the data services offered by the Library of Congress; we want to share our approach if it may be of assistance to others in the community.
Part Two will draw attention to MARC-to-BIBFRAME and BIBFRAME-to-MARC conversion challenges that can be ameliorated with attention to changes in current cataloging practice. LC’s work splitting a single MARC record into multiple BIBFRAME Instances based on 007s and 300s is possible because of careful cataloging practice, but not all catalogers approach the description of complex materials in the same way (even within LC!). The silent pairing of MARC fields is another area where there have been challenges in part because of uneven cataloging practice. Part Two will explore the intersection of conversion and cataloging practices.
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PART 2 "MARC to Linked Data - More Possibilities" on Friday, 3/15/2024 (2-3pm EST/1-2pm CST/11am-12pm PST):
#1. “Integrating Linked Data into Cataloging Workflows” by Anne Washington, OCLC
#2. “Everything You Wanted to Know About 'Linky MARC' (and Were Definitely Not Afraid to Ask, Being Librarians)” by Abby Dover, Northwestern University
#3. “Using Linked Open Data to Build a Culture of Collaboration at Yale University” by Timothy A. Thompson, Yale University Library
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3:00pm = Technical Services Managers in Academic Libraries
This session was not recorded.
Artificial Intelligence has the potential to bring significant changes to technical services work in academic libraries. We will spend this session discussing ways technical services managers in academic libraries might be engaging the topic of artificial intelligence with their teams or with upper management.
This meeting will not be recorded as it is an informal session and meant to be an open and creative conversation.
Thursday, March 7
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10:00am = Technical Services Workflow Efficiency
The Technical Services Workflow Efficiency Interest Group (TSWEIG) is pleased to host three presentations during Interest Group week. We hope you will join us!
In the weeds with weeding: customizing a library-wide deselection workflow
Deselection is a tricky procedure that involves multiple units and people across the library. Subject Librarians who do the work of deselection employ different weeding procedures based on their preferences and working styles. It can be difficult to coordinate deselection timelines and workflows around individual librarians’ weeding cycles. We saw an opportunity to centralize the information in weeding lists to facilitate more effective workflows for Circulation and Cataloging. Western Carolina University’s Collection Strategist and Cataloging and Metadata Librarian created a “weeding tracker” spreadsheet to help streamline the weeding process. The weeding tracker method maintains flexibility for Subject Librarians’ unique deselection preferences while standardizing the overall procedure to enable efficiency in Technical Services workflows. Developing a coordinated method for weeding procedures required reviewing and incorporating specific information about the different approaches to deselection; consulting with colleagues in Access Services, Cataloging, and Research and Instruction; and obtaining ongoing buy-in and approval from everyone who is affected by the workflow. Librarians will share their process and some of the problems they encountered, such as the niceties of excluding retention commitments and including volume numbers in list exports, as well as trialing and rejecting a new withdrawal procedure in Cataloging. The presenters will also touch on the initial results of the piloted workflow and share future recommendations. Attendees will come away with new ideas about how to adapt and streamline their own current processes for deselection using existing tools.
Presenters: Ali Norvell, Collection Strategist and Resource Access Librarian and Rebecca Saunders, Cataloging and Metadata Librarian, Western Carolina University.
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A little innovation with a huge national impact
The 072 MARC tag, otherwise known as a Subject Category Code (LC) or Broad Descriptors (NLS), has been used by the National Library Service to first and foremost build a genre/subject bridge between the NLS Catalog and NLS BARD database. In recent years NLS started to publicize and expand the Broad Descriptors code list and utilization in MARC records. The little-known codes become an important key in the process of a patron’s book auto-select and become an effective and extremely efficient support tool to optimize NLS Catalog search and discovery. This presentation will describe how in just a couple of years 072 tag became one of the most interesting and helpful coded MARC tags that can relate and collaborate with searches across different MARC and non-MARC databases, how it can simplify on-demand patron search in regional libraries across the United States, and how it directly relates to readers and librarians high demand interests and topics. How the 4-letter codes filled the space between Library of Congress Subject Headings and Local Public Libraries themes and reader’s direct interest genres and how the 072 MARC tag can potentially consolidate three aspects of the library’s search and discovery: vocabulary control and standardization, local demand, and reader preference will also be discussed.
Presenter: Anita Kazmierczak, National Library Service for Blind and Print-Disabled, Library of Congress
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Using AI to improve technical services workflows
This presentation will discuss how the National Library of Medicine is beginning to use AI to improve workflows in Technical Services. Two main projects will be discussed. First, the presenter will show how ChatGPT can be used to properly format the MARC 505 field for CIP records, even when the data from the publisher is a little messy. Next, the presenter will demonstrate how ChatGPT can be used to generate python script to programmatically select the best OCLC record books when processing a large vendor order.
Presenter: Alvin Stockdale, Senior Serials Specialist, Metadata Management Program, National Library of Medicine
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11:00am = Bibliographic Conceptual Models
Title “Schrödinger's Catalog: Is BibFrame Alive or Dead?"
In November of 2023, Jeff Edmunds published a provocative essay entitled, "BIBFRAME Must Die". This was followed by a brief but animated discussion on BIBFRAME discussion lists, but it seemed the topic was worthy of deeper analysis and more sustained debate. Regardless of whether one agrees with his thesis and arguments, there's no question that Edmunds introduced a very "heterodox" opinion into what is usually a consensus mood on the inevitability of BIBFRAME.
For this IG week session, the Bibliographic Conceptual Models Interest Group (BCMIG) will be hosting a discussion of the issues raised by Edmunds in his paper. BCMIG co-chair Tom Dousa will serve as moderator and provide a brief summary of Edmunds's arguments. This will be followed by remarks from two panelists: Yale's Senior Director for Digital Cultural Heritage Rob Sanderson and EBSCO's Senior Product Manager for Linked Data Innovation and Design, Gloria Gonzalez. Each will provide their unique perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of BIBFRAME and its prospects for the future. The panelists will then engage in Q&A with audience members.
Please join us on Mar 7, 2024, 12 noon ET for a lively discussion of this important topic.
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Robert Sanderson
Title: “BibFrame needs a Usability Makeover (and it’s as easy as ABC)”
Abstract: The bibliographic modeling community is fragmented, heading in several different directions, despite BibFrame being now more than a decade old. For the model, the ontology that encodes it, and the data created using it to be valuable, it needs to recognize the audience for data is software developers, and make it easy for that audience to engage. With reflections on the recent criticism of the ontology, this presentation will briefly assess the challenges and propose steps towards resolving its not-quite-dead but not-quite-alive status.
And my intent is to walk through my “5 stars of Usable Data” notion:
A – Right Abstraction for the Audience
B – Few Barriers to entry
C – Comprehensible by introspection (e.g. by just reading the record)
D – Documentation with working examples
E – Few Exceptions, many consistent patternsTo show that BibFrame fails all of these tests, and that has led to the current situation where people like Jeff can legitimately claim that its existence is harmful to the domain.
Bio: Dr Robert Sanderson is Senior Director for Digital Cultural Heritage at Yale University, and works with Yale’s museums, libraries and archives to help them to be more connected and consistent in their processes and data. He is the technical architect and visionary for LUX, Yale’s cross-collection discovery platform built using the Linked Open Usable Data paradigm and technologies. He is chair of the Linked Art CIDOC committee and long-standing editor for IIIF specifications, and has been co-chair and editor of core W3C specifications in the domain including JSON-LD and Web Annotations. He has previously worked at the Getty in Los Angeles, Stanford University and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
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Gloria Gonzalez
Title: “A Love Letter to BIBFRAME: Embracing the Future of Open Library Data”
Abstract: In "A Love Letter to BIBFRAME," the enduring relevance and transformative potential of BIBFRAME in library data management are passionately defended. Acknowledging that sometimes love is ugly, this position navigates through the highs and lows of BIBFRAME's journey. Amidst skepticism, BIBFRAME is portrayed as a beacon of innovation, crucial for the continued evolution of libraries and their ability to meet modern user demands.
This argument will highlight the adaptability and essential role of BIBFRAME, presenting evidence of its successful implementation and impact on enhancing user experiences. Furthermore, we'll look at a vision for the future of BIBFRAME based on a collaborative development approach that includes a wide range of stakeholders. This stance affirms BIBFRAME's importance and calls to grow the movement that enables libraries to serve their communities more effectively through improved data management.
Bio: Gloria Gonzalez works with knowledge graphs for public, academic, and government libraries at EBSCO, where she is Senior Product Manager for Linked Data Innovation. In this role, she assists libraries in devising innovative methods for enhancing discoverability and access to their collections through linked data technologies.
Her journey with linked data commenced in 2011 when she contributed to developing a visualization tool, Viewshare, at the Library of Congress. After working as a Digital Archivist at UCLA Library, she co-founded the Library.Link Network with Zepheira in 2015. In 2022, she spearheaded the launch of BiblioGraph at EBSCO.
Gloria is currently a Linked Data Advisory Committee member for the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC). Her work enables linked data integration into library services platforms such as FOLIO, BiblioGraph, EBSCO Discovery Service, and Locate, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to library data management and user engagement.
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12:00pm = Library Leaders & Managers
This session was not recorded.
Drop-in Therapy Session for Leadership and Management Challenges
In addition to its monthly "Library Lounge" sessions, the Library Leaders and Managers Interest Group invites you to this drop-in session to share challenges – and solutions – for issues you are experiencing in your current position. Benefit from the hive mind in a safe and confidential setting with other managers and leaders. The session is open to anyone at any level in an organization, regardless of library type or location. Lightly moderated with a positive attitude, stop in when you can to listen, share, learn, or commiserate with others in the zoom room. This session will not be recorded.
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1:00pm = Library Consulting
How to Find a Library Consultant
Panelists will discuss methods of accessing consultants and demonstrating directories.
Host: Dr. Curtis Rogers.
Panelists:- Jami Yazdani -
- Carolyn Norman -
- Bonnie Nichols - ;
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2:00pm = Project Management
The Project Management Interest Group is pleased to host three presentations on various aspects of project management in libraries during Core Interest Group week.
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A Case Study in Digitization and Publishing to a Library Repository
This presentation will present a case study of a mass digitization project of an historical television program for the Arizona State University Library. This case study will focus on the project management principles that undergirded the project, and which led to its ultimate success. From initiation to project close out and review, we will map the traditional stages of project planning to the case study, demonstrating how they assisted with ensuring successful outcomes. In this way, we will show how a use case that many academic libraries will be familiar with- that of digitization and publishing- can be directly impacted by a project management perspective. The presentation will include lessons learned and principles that we carried forward to subsequent projects.
Presenter: Timothy Provenzano, Arizona State University
____________Lessons learned from a multi-faceted web migration project
This presentation aims to share valuable insights and lessons learned from the successful migration of all Emory Libraries' websites to a new content management system. The projects and subprojects involved significant planning, collaboration, technical expertise, and adaptability to surprise changes to ensure a seamless transition while preserving and enhancing the digital presence of the libraries. Attendees will gain practical knowledge on key considerations, challenges faced, and best practices discovered throughout this transformative journey.
Presenters will review the lessons learned based on some of the technical challenges, capacity constraints, and post-migration evaluation. By attending this presentation, participants will gain practical insights into the complexities and nuances of migrating large-scale library websites from one CMS to another. The lessons learned from Emory Libraries' experience will serve as a valuable guide for institutions considering similar digital transformations in the future.
Presenters: Cari Lovins & Laura Akerman, Emory University
____________Applying Program Management to Strategic Initiatives
Most organizations have a strategy in place to close the gap between their current state and a desired future state that has been articulated through the strategic planning process. These strategies are often realized through one or more strategic initiatives, and some might say that if a strategic initiative could be implemented with a single, well-defined project that it may not be particularly strategic. Strategic initiatives are designed to produce outcomes that meet strategic goals and they may need more complex plans and methods than project management techniques offer. Within the field of project management, program management involves coordinating the projects and other components that make up a single program that delivers benefit to the institution. This presentation will show how the presenter’s library is using program management techniques to move through layers of complexity in driving changes around one strategic initiative that involves several layers of implementation.
Presenter: Janetta Waterhouse, Kansas State University
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3:00pm = Competencies and Education for a Career in Cataloging
The Core Competencies and Education for a Career in Cataloging Interest Group will facilitate active conversation among librarians, library educators and information professionals about the current state of education and employment in cataloging and explores the relationship of cataloging practitioners and employers with library educators.
Title: Using Core Competencies in course design and assessment
Presenters: Juliya Borie, Cataloguing Librarian, University of Toronto Libraries; Elisa Sze, Metadata Librarian, University of Toronto LibrariesElisa Sze and Juliya Borie are practitioner-educators who co-teach a cataloguing course at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information (iSchool) as part of its 91传媒-accredited Master of Information (MI) program. The course is an LIS elective that attracts diverse students from multiple MI concentrations including LIS, archives and records management, information systems, and UX design. This talk begins with the instructors’ rationale for exposing students to the 91传媒 Core Competencies for Cataloging and Metadata Professional Librarians and the 91传媒-CFLA-CILIP-endorsed Cataloguing Code of Ethics from Day 1 of their Winter 2023 course, and the lessons that have been applied to the Winter 2024 course. The panelists will discuss how the Core Competencies and Code of Ethics documents informed course syllabus development—for instance, ensuring that students learned about and interacted with at least one example from each “category” of standards presented in the Core Competencies: data content standard (RDA), data structure standard (MARC), data value encoding schemes (LCSH, LCC), and data exchange standards (MARC again, though we also briefly refer to RDF triples in the context of linked data). Students engaged with the standards through graded assessments (quizzes, assignments, take-home exam) as well as ungraded ones (in-class activities). To vary the learning opportunities, the instructors also referred students to professional development activities outside of the classroom setting, organizing an optional tour of the central library system’s Metadata Services Department, inviting practitioners to give guest presentations, and encouraging students to attend the workshops offered by the iSchool that complement the course. With a growing interest in AI in the LIS field, the Winter 2024 course will also see students invited to attend a University of Toronto Libraries Cataloguing & Metadata Committee event on the potential for AI to support metadata and cataloguing; this event will introduce students to practitioners and managers, and allow students to observe the importance of developing strong “soft” skills to succeed in the LIS profession. Based on the popularity of last year’s guest panel, we will continue to invite guests to the Winter 2024 course—this time with a focus on international committee work. We recognize that not all students in the course will become cataloguers or work with metadata, but we aim for them to come away with respect for all that goes into this type of specialization, including an appreciation for big picture thinking. The core competencies document provides a “bird’s eye view” for students as they make their career decisions, while offering them a concrete checklist of skills to build over time. Anecdotally we know of students who have referred back to the document in their preparation for job applications and interviews.
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Title: What you know and what you don't – new catalogers and metadata job seekers entering the current library workforce. The gap between the learning/training combo and on-the-job expectations.
Presenter: Anita Kazmierczak-Hoffman, Head, Bibliographic Control Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Print DisabledThe ongoing struggle is how to break into the library system as a beginner cataloger or metadata specialist. What do candidates need besides appropriate on-the-paper qualifications? This presentation will highlight the difference between job requirements and job expectations, and why is so hard for many to secure their first job in the library.
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Title: Back to the Future: Cataloger Training Meets the Core Competencies
Presenter: Tonya Dority, Interim Acquisitions and Metadata Librarian, Reese Library, Augusta UniversityLibrarians often have diverse educational backgrounds and experiences. While some remain loyal to a particular career path, others
seek to learn new skills. In 2019, I accepted a cataloging staff position at Augusta University’s Reese Library. Having received a library
science degree, I was familiar with MARC records, subject analysis, and classification; however, cataloging was not my area of expertise.So how do we best prepare librarians who do not have an extensive cataloging background and staff who often assume these responsibilities?
This presentation will explore cataloger training at Reese and the benefits of incorporating the Revised Core Competencies.
Friday, March 8
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10:00am = Creative Ideas in Technical Services
CITSIG presentations share practical issues and experiences from different vantage points within technical services. Presentations will focus on:
- using the open-source MARC metadata quality assurance tool “QA Catalogue for Analysing Library Data” to assess ebook metadata quality.
- creative ways to improve working conditions for technical services operations and practicing self-care.
- investigating the use of Homosaurus vocabulary in bibliographic records and analyzing the usage of terms.
Our session will include three presentations in succession as follows:
Applications of the QA Catalogue for Analysing Library Data –David Floyd (Chief Cataloging Librarian, Subject Librarian for Judaic Studies), Sasha Frizzell (Catalog/Metadata Management Librarian), Binghamton University
Practicing Self-care on the Job in Technical Services – Janetta Waterhouse (Associate Dean for Collections, Discovery, and Information Technology Services), Kansas State University
Homosaurus Usage in the OCLC Database: an Exploratory Analysis – Paromita Biswas (Continuing Resources Metadata Librarian), Amanda Mack (Cataloger in the Film & Television Archive), and Erica Zhang (Metadata Librarian for Open Access), UCLA
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11:00am = Imagineering
Open Discussion on What SF/F You Are Reading Lately
Have science fiction and fantasy piling up in your TBR or have you just finished something you really want to talk about? Join the Imagineering Interest Group for an open, free wheeling chat about the books that have caught our eye lately. Bring your lunch and prepare to go off mike. We're all panelists as we chat about our favorite recent reads. You'll come away with reading buddies and a longer to read list than you started with!
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12:00pm = New Members
As you look for new opportunities in your career, are you thinking about getting into supervision? Have you recently moved into a supervisory role and find that you have questions? Are you managing or mentoring someone new to supervising others and considering how best to train them? The Core New Members Interest Group will be exploring the “new” of transitioning into these roles with an open discussion. Come with your questions, your advice, and ready to talk.
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1:00pm = Collection Management in Public Libraries
As more films and television shows bypass physical release and are made available only through streaming services, libraries need to find ways to get their patrons the content they're demanding. By circulating Roku devices pre-signed in to specific premium streaming platforms, specifically Acorn TV, Apple TV+, BET+, Discovery+, Disney+, Hulu, Max, Paramount+, Peacock Premium, and Prime Video, libraries can bring this much hyped content to their communities.
Join us as we hear from Jeff Reid, Collection Development Librarian for the Dayton Metro Library, about how he and his team designed and implemented their Roku program that launched in March, 2022.
(Psst - this is a great opportunity to catch a session you might have missed at 91传媒 LibLearnX 2024!)
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2:00pm = Role of the Professional Librarian in Technical Services
The Role of the Professional Librarian in Technical Services Interest Group (RPLTS IG) presents three talks about building the future of technical services. In these presentations, librarians will address how they have responded to recent challenges at their organizations by creating controlled digital lending workflows, implementing tools for effective diversity audits, and developing librarians' electronic resources skills.
The program will include the following presentations, followed by time for Q&A:
"Proposing Controlled Digital Lending to the University of Houston Alma Stakeholders", presented by Diana Dulek, Metadata and Digital Initiatives Librarian, University of Houston Law Center, and Leonard (Leo) Martin, Interim Head of Resource Management and Metadata, University of Houston Libraries
This presentation will discuss the importance of controlled digital lending to the different libraries on campus, how the Covid-19 pandemic pressed the matter for stakeholders, and the importance of collaboration across campus and departments. We will look at where the project stands currently and provide insights we’ve learned along the way. In April 2019, the University of Houston Law Library began exploring options to provide access to its collection of study aids via controlled digital lending. This project took on renewed priority and significance in early 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic began, and the university community went remote. The Law Library contracted with an external vendor to pursue a pilot for in-house digitization and controlled lending access via a remote content server. The pilot met basic needs but was ultimately discontinued in favor of finding a way to integrate a controlled digital lending workflow with the library services platform, ExLibris. In 2022 the Law Library joined with stakeholders from University of Houston Libraries to begin exploring Alma Digital offerings. After experimenting in the Alma sandbox, the team met with another Houston-area university who had experience with the ExLibris ecosystem and had successfully implemented CDL through Alma Digital. The cross-campus team then began making our case for implementing controlled digital lending through Alma Digital on the University of Houston main campus.
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"Diversity Audits and the Role of Technical Services Staff", presented by Rachel Fischer, Member Services Librarian for Technical Services, Cooperative Computer Services (CCS)
Since 2017, an increasing number of libraries have taken on the task of auditing the diversity of their collections manually or with the assistance of vendors. Yet, auditing a whole library can be time consuming and expensive. To assist libraries with making their diversity audit process more efficient, Cooperative Computer Services (CCS), a public library consortium in Illinois, created a diversity audit tool using Tableau. This tool allows all libraries in the consortium to analyze the diversity of the collections and selection areas as well as provide them with a way of benchmarking against the full consortium or libraries that serve a population area with similar demographics. Additionally, a collection development component allows a selector to identify diverse titles that the other libraries in the consortium own that are not owned by their library yet to increase the diversity of the collection. This can make both the selection process and the cataloging of these titles more efficient. Cataloging and Systems Administration staff played an important role in making this diversity audit tool possible. This presentation will introduce the concept of diversity audits, the options available from vendors, and the role that technical services staff played in creating an automated diversity audit tool for the consortium. This included designing the tool, identifying the subject headings to audit, and automating its functionality.
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"How Are We Developing Future Electronic Resource Librarians?", presented by Cara Calabrese, Acquisitions & Access Librarian, Miami University
Technical Services (TS) has had a long-standing place in the education of new librarians. Cataloging is one of the core classes for many MLIS programs, but TS encompasses a wide range of skills and areas of expertise. Unfortunately, many outside of Technical Services are not as familiar with what we do and Electronic Resources (ER), specifically, was not well represented in course offerings either. When I graduated in 2015, every ER related posting seemed to require 3-5 years of experience, but how was a new grad meant to reach that level when there were no courses in library school focusing on electronic resource management or associated tasks? This presentation will showcase the findings from a qualitative analysis of the top 10 highest enrolled MLIS programs course catalog as compared to the NASIG Core Competencies for ER Librarians to see if we, as a field, are prepping new professionals to succeed. I’ll also share how I developed skills in ER along with how I am training others and designing workflows to be more transparent and allow TS to more easily communicate and share our expertise.
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3:00pm = Middle Managers
This session was not recorded.
Want to connect with other library middle managers and discuss the dilemmas we've all been facing?
Whether you are in need of advice or have lots of experience as a middle manager, we invite you to before the meeting to nominate possible discussion topics and like your favorites. Then we'll talk about the most liked topics during the meeting.
Please note that this meeting will not be recorded to encourage authentic information sharing and discussion.
