competencies for cataloging and metadata librarians...competencies for cataloging and metadata...
TRANSCRIPT
Competencies for Cataloging
and Metadata Librarians
Fatima Darries
Deputy Director
Cataloguing Division,
Unisa Library
IGBIS Seminar, 8 September 2017, Centurion Lake Hotel
• Core competence of Librarians
• Competence of Metadata Librarians &
Cataloguers
• Jobs Analysis
• Unisa Case
Competencies
LIS Competency Index -SA
• Core professional, generic and
personal competency in digital age
• Competency :
– knowledge - what one should know or
understand
– skills - what one should be able to do
– Personal attributes - one’s values,
attitudes and personal traits
• 23 Academic Libraries
• job ads in the period 2014-2016
Core competency
http://publish.illinois.edu/ifla-set-ltr-2016/files/2016/06/Jaya-Raju-IFLA-
2016-satellite-SET-LTR-pptx.pdf
Resource Description Formats
• BIBFRAME (Bibliographic Framework Initiative)
Linked data model, vocabulary, and tools for expressing bibliographic data
• EAD (Encoded Archival Description)
XML markup designed for encoding archival finding aids
• Extended Date/Time Format (EDTF)
Comprehensive date/time definition for the bibliogrpahic community
• MADS (Metadata Authority Description Standard)
XML markup for authority data from MARC 21 records and original authority data
• MARC 21 formats
Representation and communication of descriptive metadata about library items
• MARCXML
XML representation of MARC 21 data
• MODS (Metadata Object Description Standard)
XML markup for metadata from existing MARC 21 records and original resource description
• VRA Core
XML schema and data format description of visual culture and images that document them
https://www.loc.gov/librarians/standards
Digital Library Standards
•ALTO
Technical metadata for Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
•AudioMD and VideoMD
XML schemas for technical metadata on audio- and video-based digital
objects
•METS (Metadata Encoding & Transmission Standard)
Structure for encoding descriptive, administrative, and structural metadata
•MIX (NISO Metadata for Images in XML)
XML schema for encoding technical data elements required to manage
digital image collections
•PREMIS (Preservation Metadata)
Data dictionary and supporting XML schemas for core preservation
metadata needed to support the long-term preservation of digital
materials.
•TextMD (Technical Metadata for Text)
XML schema that details technical metadata for text-based digital objects
https://www.loc.gov/librarians/standards
Core Competencies of MetaCats• Core Competencies excludes specialist areas – music, AV
1. Knowledge competencies
– encompass background and context for cataloging and metadata work. These
competencies include understanding conceptual models upon which standards are
based, and the structure of basic cataloging tools and encoding standards.
2. Skill & Ability Competencies
– The basis for competent cataloging is not only the ability to master individual principles
and skills but to synthesize these principles and skills to create cohesive, compliant
bibliographic data that function within local and international metadata ecosystems.
3. Behavioural Competencies
Appropriate knowledge and skills form a basis for cataloging competency. A grasp of the key
concepts and skills, however, do not add up to successful cataloging practice. Behavioral
competencies describe both personal attributes that contribute to success in the profession
and ways of thinking that can be developed through coursework and employment
experience
1. Knowledge Competencies
• Knowledge competencies fall under three
main areas: principles, systems, and trends.
1. Knowledge Competencies
Knowledge of foundational cataloging and metadata
principles– Understands historical context for current metadata principles, e.g.
Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science, Cutter’s Objects and Means
– Understands principles of identity management and authority control
– Understands principles behind controlled vocabularies, including syndetic
structure and the benefits and drawbacks of pre- and post-coordinated terms,
and can identify the vocabularies in current use
– Understands various classification structures and can identify the classification
schemes in current use
– Understands data standardization
– o Content standards : RDA guidelines, AACR2, DCRM, DACS, CCO
– o Structure standards: Dublin Core, MODS, MARC, RDA Element Sets,
BIBFRAME, EAD, VRA Core
– o Data encoding, format, and exchange standards: MARC, XML, Turtle
– o Value standards: LCSH, LCGFT, LCMPT, LCC, DDC, RDA Value
Vocabularies
– Understands conceptual models for library data : FRBR, RDF
1. Knowledge Competencies
Knowledge of systems and technology– Understands indexing and database structures: understands utility of authorized
text strings and unique identifiers for indexing and referential functionality
– Understands library services platforms/library management systems and/or
institutional repository and digital library management systems : Sierra, Alma,
Symphony, Koha, WorldShare Management Services, CONTENTdm, Islandora,
DSpace
– Understands the nature and function of cooperative bibliographic databases :
OCLC WorldCat, III SkyRiver
– Understands methods and approaches for metadata creation, editing, analysis,
and transformation: Using tools such as OCLC Connexion, oXygen XML Editor,
MarcEdit, OpenRefine, XML Notepad, XSLT
1. Knowledge Competencies
• Knowledge of trends in cataloging and metadata
profession– Understands how cataloging fits within the broader library and cultural heritage
context (“Big Picture” Knowledge) : the use of metadata to support reference,
liaison, and circulation work; the impact of quality vs. lack of/poor metadata on
user access to resources
– Has awareness of major trends/organizations in the cataloging profession :
linked data, PCC, LC-PCC Policy Statements, RDA Steering Committee
2. Skills and Abilities Competencies
Application of conceptual frameworks, standards,
and principles within a bibliographic system– Formulates consistent data Applies a metadata content standard such as RDA
guidelines, AACR2, DACS, etc.
– Disambiguates creators, contributors, titles/series : Utilizes instructions from a
metadata content standard (RDA guidelines) and/or a best practices document
(PCC NACO Participants Manual) to formulate authorized entries; manages
identifiers for entities
– Analyzes and classifies resources : Utilizes best practices for subject analysis
and assignment (LC Subject Headings Manual);
– Encodes machine-actionable data: Utilizes metadata structure standard
(MARC, Dublin Core, MODS, etc.) via serialization standards (XML, Turtle, etc.)
– Asserts relationships between creators, works, etc: Utilizes a metadata value
standard (RDA Element Sets) to relate different entities
2. Skills and Abilities Competencies
Application of universal standards within a local context– Assesses or seeks to understand local user needs for library metadata
– Sets (or advises on) local metadata practice, including selecting appropriate
standards for local use
– Documents local decisions and practices
– Designs and modifies cataloging and metadata workflow processes
• Integration, mapping, and transformation of metadata within a
bibliographic system– Converts or crosswalks a record/document from one metadata standard to
another e.g. MARC-to-XML
– Employs standards to normalize metadata
– Documents input and mapping decisions
3. Behavioural Competencies
Interpersonal communicationCollaborates effectively
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
Builds and maintains collegial relationships
Listens with genuine interest and an open mind
Public service orientationRecognizes multiple cultures and diverse populations
Prioritizes user needs
Values diverse viewpoints and ways of doing things
3. Behavioural Competencies
Initiative & adaptabilityDemonstrates: Creativity, Flexibility, Comfort with ambiguity,
Independence, A commitment to lifelong learning
Professional CuriosityMaintains awareness of professional literature and research
Seeks involvement with professional organizations
Advocates for the profession
Problem solvingAbility to : Manage projects, Manage workflows, Think critically,
Sustain attention to detail, Conduct assessments and evaluations
Contribute to holistic visioning and strategic planning efforts
The future is @Unisa
• competencies outlined … involve inter-
departmental efforts within an academic library
and are not necessarily confined to a single
section of the library. For example,
management of the library’s digital resources
would involve the cataloguing, systems and
(information technology) IT, preservation and
digitisation sections. Raju, 2017
Increasing Collaboration
1. Digitisation (Access and Preservation)
- Archives, museum, gallery
2. Research Data Curation
-client services
3. Description (Cataloguing) Section
- (metadata templates, identity authority)
4. Shelf Ready Processing
-Procurement processing (last best hope)
ICT Applications/shared responsibility
• Library Catalogue (WorldCat)
• Spine labelled IR – shelves & branches
• UnisaIR (Research output) (metadata)
• Unisa E-Reserves (objects)
• Unisa Digital Archives (Digital Collections)
• ….Data Repository…
Quality assurance
• Self quality assurance (copy cataloguing)
• Peer quality assurance (original cataloguing)
• Vendor quality assurance (shelf ready,
contract cataloguing)
• Why
a) The Perfect Bibliographic Record
b) The client
c) Value added services (CRIS, Discovery,
Cross-walks, Harvesting)
Shelf ready resources
• Shelf ready resources
– Started 2012
– Download MARC records
– Quality assurance of the bibliographic and
item record
– Quality assurance of physical preparation
– Download authority records
– Shelf ready workflow
Ebooks Annual Comparison
E-Books
• In-house – title by title
• MARC files from Vendors –ftp, .xml, .mrc
• KBART – Worldshare - download
• Worldshare, Vendor, Library – golden triangle
• But that is only to add holdings and get it into
the catalogue
• Then there is the admin
Cataloguing workflow for e-books
• WorldShare
– Receive Excel file with titles from Procurement
– Create Knowledge Base and Related Tools
(KBART) file
– Upload on WorldShare
– Download from WorldShare
– Upload on Sierra
– Global update on Sierra
– Divide between cataloguers
– QA and checking of links
Table of Contents Service
• Sourced in service from Blackwells (2010);
Innovative (2012)
• New supplier: Yankee Book Peddler (2016)
• Loaded into Sierra by Library Technology
Services
• Global update to remove 505 field
• Currently 186 490 records with TOCs
• SA publication TOC service not available
Authority cataloguing process
• Downloading of authority records
• Changing existing authority record
• Creating new authority records
• Removal of duplicate forms
Authority Enhancement
• Service provider
• Specifications
• Mass ingestion of
authority records
• …cleanup….
Research Data Curation (RDM)
• Datasets
• Repository: Business
Case
• Draft Policy
• RDM Task Team
• Strategy, Roadmap
• Digital objects
metadata
• Vocabularies
Description of Digital Collections/Archival
Unisa Digital Archives on ContentDM
2016 - the first months…
Cataloguing Section : Steep learning
Digitization
Description of created digital
surrogates of:
• Theses & Dissertations
• Journal articles, etc
• Archival information
resources : Manuscripts,
maps, objects, posters, etc
1. UnisaIR
2. Unisa Digital Archives
Scholarly Communication
• Institutional Repositories
• Subject Repositories
• Open Access, Open Knowledge
Change Management
• Single title, single record to mass/batch processing
• Single workflows to multiple
• Multiple ICT systems and platforms
– ILS, Digital collections repositories: institutional, data,
archival, cultural heritage
• One description standard to many metadata
standards
– AACR2, RDA, Dublin and Dublin Core, MODS etc
Change Management
• Hard copy to ebooks,
• Commercial IR to heritage, archival and
special collections;
• Research output and research data
Change Management
• Skills steep learning curves
– subject to description experts;
– post preparation to pre preparation;
– programming skills – MARCEdit, KBART
• Structural
– Management, Supervisor, co-ordinators
– Digitisation Unit
– Data curation Unit (scholarly communication
• Physical space – new machines
Job Analysis
What does a cataloguer look like?
• Description expert
• Metadata master
• Identity authority
• Batch processing
junkie
• Programming fundi
References
• ALA. Cataloguing Task Force. 2017. Core Competencies for Cataloging and Metadata
Professional. Available at:
• Raju, J. 2017. LIS professional competency index for the higher education sector in South
Africa. Cape Town: University of Cape Town Libraries. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15641/0-
7992-2536-5
• Raju, J. 2016. Core competencies in LIS education: professional, generic and personal
competencies for the higher education LIS sector. Paper presented at the Satellite Meeting
Co-organised by the Section on Education and Training and World Library and Information
Congress 82nd IFLA General Conference and Assembly Section on Library Theory and
Research, The Conference Centre at OCLC, Dublin, Ohio, United States of America (USA),
10 August 2016. Available: http://publish.illinois.edu/ifla-set-ltr-2016/files/2016/06/Jaya-Raju-
IFLA-2016-satellite-SET-LTR-pptx.pdf [2016, September 17].
•