Competencies for Cataloging and Metadata Librarians

Transcription

1 Competencies for Cataloging and Metadata Librarians Fatima Darries Deputy Director Cataloguing Division, Unisa Library IGBIS Seminar, 8 September 2017, Centurion Lake Hotel

2 Core competence of Librarians Competence of Metadata Librarians & Cataloguers Jobs Analysis Unisa Case

3 Competencies

4 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

5 Core competency satellite-SET-LTR-pptx.pdf

6 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

7 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

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10 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

11 1. Knowledge Competencies Knowledge competencies fall under three main areas: principles, systems, and trends.

12 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

13 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

14 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

15 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

16 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

17 3. Behavioural Competencies Interpersonal communication Collaborates effectively Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills Builds and maintains collegial relationships Listens with genuine interest and an open mind Public service orientation Recognizes multiple cultures and diverse populations Prioritizes user needs Values diverse viewpoints and ways of doing things

18 3. Behavioural Competencies Initiative & adaptability Demonstrates: Creativity, Flexibility, Comfort with ambiguity, Independence, A commitment to lifelong learning Professional Curiosity Maintains awareness of professional literature and research Seeks involvement with professional organizations Advocates for the profession Problem solving Ability to : Manage projects, Manage workflows, Think critically, Sustain attention to detail, Conduct assessments and evaluations Contribute to holistic visioning and strategic planning efforts

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20 The future competencies outlined involve interdepartmental 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

21 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)

22 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

23 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)

24 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

25 Ebooks Annual Comparison

26 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

27 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

28 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 records with TOCs SA publication TOC service not available

29 Authority cataloguing process Downloading of authority records Changing existing authority record Creating new authority records Removal of duplicate forms

30 Authority Enhancement Service provider Specifications Mass ingestion of authority records cleanup.

31 Research Data Curation (RDM) Datasets Repository: Business Case Draft Policy RDM Task Team Strategy, Roadmap Digital objects metadata Vocabularies

32 Description of Digital Collections/Archival

33 Unisa Digital Archives on ContentDM the first months

34 Cataloguing Section : Steep learning

35 Digitization 1. UnisaIR 2. Unisa Digital Archives Description of created digital surrogates of: Theses & Dissertations Journal articles, etc Archival information resources : Manuscripts, maps, objects, posters, etc

36 Scholarly Communication Institutional Repositories Subject Repositories Open Access, Open Knowledge

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38 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

39 Change Management Hard copy to ebooks, Commercial IR to heritage, archival and special collections; Research output and research data

40 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

41 Job Analysis

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44 What does a cataloguer look like? Description expert Metadata master Identity authority Batch processing junkie Programming fundi

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47 References ALA. Cataloguing Task Force Core Competencies for Cataloging and Metadata Professional. Available at: Raju, J LIS professional competency index for the higher education sector in South Africa. Cape Town: University of Cape Town Libraries. DOI: Raju, J 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 Available: IFLA-2016-satellite-SET-LTR-pptx.pdf [2016, September 17].

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