WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? Ann Ellis Dec. 18, 2000 CATALOGING: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? Ann Ellis Dec. 18, 2000
Assumptions from Library of Congress: Bibliographic Control in the New Millennium (Calhoun) Variety of local and remote databases and resources in different formats Convergence of full text materials, catalogs and collections Less structure in indexing or cataloging; mixed kinds of data Distributed responsibility and sources for resource description (creator, publisher, or third party)
What will we catalog or describe? Traditional formats, plus increasing numbers of: online serials online documents e-books websites of significant value
Why catalog or describe electronic resources? To provide a dimension of intellectual access beyond keyword searches and long or buried listings To help students and researchers locate useful information from all that is available from local and remote sources
How will electronic resources be described? Use several levels or types of description or encoding depending on the resource and its intended use or stability more emphasis on information retrieval and needs of user less emphasis on completeness of description for some resources less emphasis on traditional cataloging rules for some resources
Types of resource descriptions: MARC records separate entity from resource can be downloaded from OCLC, LC from various vendors such as Marcive, PromptCat can be created locally and contributed to OCLC
Types of resource descriptions: Dublin Core records useful to describe dynamic websites fewer fields, tags and rules (DC has 15 elements) which can be mapped to MARC can be downloaded from OCLC can be created locally using a template or record generator such as CORC or MARCit can enhance to MARC-level
Types of resource descriptions: Metadata embedded within resource by creator or another party add descriptive information to a resource using coding such as Dublin Core elements within HTML, or using XML XML coding allows unlike systems to exchange information with each other in a structured way
Metadata (continued) enhance resource discovery with searchable data such as creator, content, controlled vocabulary, dates, use restrictions, etc. can create catalog record from coded document using record generator like CORC or similar program
Recent library trends: Multiple catalogs connected to form a remotely searchable database with system interoperability Aggregate databases created in-house or by vendors to be searched globally subject- or user-oriented to meet specific needs
Recent library trends: Search engine software for local sites enable users to search all databases, web pages and catalogs mounted in a website enable users to customize search and retrieval format to suit individual needs
What we can do now: Enrich database records with useful information: contents notes or links to web contents summary notes where appropriate consider links to related information additional meaningful subject access emphasize authority control
What we can do now: Be aware of new technologies, standards, descriptor codes, metadata initiatives; participate in projects & experiments Work with other areas in library to implement changes--learn how other departments can help or enhance what we do