Cataloging Futures

LC Subject Cataloging and the Open Library

I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that there's a post on subject cataloging over on the Library of Congress Blog. It refers to an interview with Aaron Swartz about the Open Library. Again here's another example of the Web 2.0 crowd's interest in quality bibliographic data (I've mentioned this before.).

I'm encouraged by Web 2.0 projects like Library Thing and the Open Library. Read the interview and the LC blog post and let me know what you think.

Open WorldCataloging?

Via ERATS: On June 22, 2007, the University of California Libraries announced it will be replacing their ILS, Melvyl, with OCLC WorldCat Local in a pilot project. When the infamous "UC Report" came out in December 2005, the idea of replacing the local OPAC with OCLC seemed like an extreme, radical idea and, in fact, the report described it as the "radical scenario". Here we are almost 2 years later and the ILS landscape is starting to look vastly different. The radical scenario appears more utilitarian--just one among several strategies for library catalog relevance and survival.

In the Demise of the Local Catalog, Roy Tennant calls for the local library catalog to be relegated to the back room "where it belonged and a unified finding tool be put in its place." I struggle with the idea of abandoning local catalogs because of my background in theological libraries, and to a lesser extent, special collections. Theological libraries, as special libraries, have a clear mission, focus, and user group. When cataloging, I've always had to add subject headings to bibliographic records to enhance them for our users. I imagine this added value would be lost if we relied on the master records in OCLC WorldCat as replacements for the local catalog?

On the flip side, the Open Library, a new wiki catalog, is calling on anyone and everyone to add to and embellish bibliographic records. If OCLC really wants to "get with it" they'll open up the editing functions for OCLC WorldCat, so that all member libraries can add value to any part of the bibliographic record. Current OCLC quality control practice seems almost Draconian in a Web 2.0 environment. So, how about implementing "Open WorldCataloging" along with Open WorldCat?

Bibliographic Data Wants to Be Free!

Not only does information want to be free. Now it's bibliographic data also. Check out the new Web initiative called Open Library. In particular, catalogers and metadata librarians will want to read the sections on librarianship and draft schema.