Cataloging Futures

ALA Connect's Cataloging Rules discussion forum

I always thought "Cataloging Rules" would be a great name for a blog. Well, turns out it's an ALA Connect community:

The mission of Cataloging Rules is to serve as a forum for discussing the value that cataloging adds to libraries.

The world of information discovery and information retrieval is a competitive one, so it's important that catalogers explain the crucial role metadata plays in helping libraries achieve their missions. Rich metadata, such as that created and maintained in online catalogs, enables efficient and precise information discovery in libraries. Cataloging has many features that facilitate discovery and compensate for the weaknesses of full-text searching, including the application of controlled vocabularies and the resolution of the name ambiguity problem.

Over the past ten years, many have attacked library catalogs, catalogers, and cataloging in general, but insufficient effort has been made, in the wake of these gratuitous attacks, to explain the value that cataloging adds to information management and discovery in libraries. This group will serve as a forum for discussing the great value that cataloging adds to library collections.

Not an ALA member? You can still participate:

Non-members will be able to register in Connect to create a free account, but they will only be able to view and add to public content. They won't be able to search for ALA members, view member data, or take advantage of any of the networking features.

LITA/ALCTS Authority Control Interest Group wiki

Discovered this recently. The American Library Association divisions, LITA and ALCTS, have a wiki for their Authority Control Interest Group (ACIG). Very nice. Lots of good resources and info.

New report: Functional Requirements for Subject Authority Data (FRSAD)

There is so much to read right now in cataloging and metadata that it's hard not to feel overwhelmed. Last night I was clueless as to where to begin. But this morning I decided that the report that should go to the top of the pile is: Functional Requirements for Subject Authority Data (FRSAD) [pdf].

This is the third conceptual model along with FRBR and FRAD.

The draft report is now open for public comment. If you're inclined (like I am) to throw in your two-cents, the comments have to be emailed in by July 31, 2009.

Via Catalogablog and The FRBR Blog

New OCLC report: Networking Names

This new report, Networking Names, presents the idea of a "Cooperative Identities Hub." Sort of a Wikipedia for name authority work. Great idea.

The report's author, Karen Smith-Yoshimura, gives more details over at the hangingtogether.org blog.

New authority control blog

You'll want to check on this new blog on authority control, Collocate and Disambiguate:

Created by Lois Reibach, this blog will discuss news and trends in authority control, and new uses of authority data. Developments in controlled vocabularies will also be covered.

My friend, Lois, is one of the smartest catalogers I know, hands down. She has always kept up on cataloging trends. So, I'm really glad she started this blog!