1. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? Ann Ellis Dec. 18, 2000
CATALOGING:
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
Ann Ellis
Dec. 18, 2000

2. 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)

3. What will we catalog or describe?
Traditional formats, plus increasing numbers of:
online serials
online documents
e-books
websites of significant value

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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