Cataloging Futures

The cataloger-programmer continuum

Earlier this month, Diane Hillmann gave a keynote address at the Code4Lib 2011 conference [archived video] where she suggested that catalogers and programmers are on a continuum. Well, recently I've moved further down that continuum toward programming and away from cataloging. My supervisor asked me to focus on the programming side of metadata work (and application development) and train one of my colleagues to do the more traditional metadata work, editing by hand, authority control, etc.

Eric Hellman, who also presented at this conference [archived video], said something that sounds like my personal mantra: "the power of a little bit of code." So far, my metadata work has benefited over the last three years from the power of a little bit of code (using XQuery and regular expressions). Simply put, things that would have been tedious drudgery if done by hand became fun programming challenges for a coding newbie.

So, as I move along the cataloger-metadata librarian-programmer continuum, I'll continue to share my experience here and on Twitter.

And I suppose I should get myself to a Code4Lib conference one of these days :)

Code4Lib Journal: new, interesting metadata/cataloging articles

The latest issue of The Code4Lib Journal was published yesterday. Issue five marks the first full year of the journal's publication. It also contains several articles that focus on cataloging/metadata issues:

‡biblios: An Open Source Cataloging Editor by Chris Catalfo

‡biblios is an open source cataloging editor designed to allow libraries to perform copy and original cataloging in a web based environment. ‡biblios allows users to search for, edit, and save bibliographic records in the MARC21/MARCXML formats. It also allows users to send records directly to integrated library systems such as the Koha ILS. Where most MARC editors are part of an integrated library system (and therefore require logging in), ‡biblios allows users to catalog with an open source standalone system available anywhere via a web browser. Unlike other cataloging editors, it offers an attractive user interface for searching, saving and editing cataloging records. This article describes the system architecture and design of ‡biblios.

Generating Metadata on a Shoestring sans Programmer, with Our Good Friend, Excel (or Any Spreadsheet) by Jill Strass

How to use Excel to generate metadata for any encoded filename or identifier for any digital object whose attributes can be expressed in an abbreviated form.

Identifying FRBR Work-Level Data in MARC Bibliographic Records for Manifestations of Moving Images by Kelley McGrath and Lynne Bisko

The library metadata community is dealing with the challenge of implementing the conceptual model, Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR). In response, the Online Audiovisual Catalogers (OLAC) created a task force to study the issues related to creating and using FRBR-based work-level records for moving images. This article presents one part of the task force’s work: it looks at the feasibility of creating provisional FRBR work-level records for moving images by extracting data from existing manifestation-level bibliographic records. Using a sample of 941 MARC records, a subgroup of the task force conducted a pilot project to look at five characteristics of moving image works. Here they discuss their methodology; analysis; selected results for two elements, original date (year) and director name; and conclude with some suggested changes to MARC coding and current cataloging policy.

FRBR conversation anyone?

The latest issue of The Code4Lib Journal includes a book review comparing two FRBR books that I just wrote. I guess you could say this is a personal achievement beyond the self-publishing blog--the blog is like a mini-vanity press :)

Anyway, one of the nice things about The Code4Lib Journal is that you can leave comments. So, if you have some thoughts about FRBR to share--jump in!

Call for papers: Code4Lib Journal - December issue

Call for Submissions:

The Code4Lib Journal (C4LJ) exists to foster community and share information among those interested in the intersection of libraries, technology, and the future.

The Code4Lib Journal is now accepting proposals for publication in its 5th issue. Don't miss out on this opportunity to share your ideas and experiences in an issue that marks the first full year of publication for this new journal. To be included in the 5th issue, scheduled for publication in December 2008, please submit articles, abstracts, or proposals to [email protected] by Friday, September 12. When submitting, please include the title or subject of the proposal in the subject line of the message.

C4LJ encourages creativity and flexibility, and the editors welcome submissions across a broad variety of topics that support the mission of the journal. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

* Practical applications of library technology (both actual and hypothetical)
* Technology projects (failed, successful, proposed, or in-progress), including how they were done and challenges faced
* Case studies
* Best practices
* Reviews
* Comparisons of third party software or libraries
* Analyses of library metadata for use with technology
* Project management and communication within the library environment
* Assessment and user studies

C4LJ strives to promote professional communication by minimizing the barriers to publication. While articles should be of a high quality, they need not follow any formal structure. Writers should aim for the middle ground between blog posts and articles in traditional refereed journals. Where appropriate, we encourage authors to submit code samples, algorithms, and pseudo-code. For more information, visit C4LJ's Article Guidelines or browse articles from the first 3 issues published on our website: http://journal.code4lib.org. The 4th issue will be available in September.

Remember, for consideration for the 5th issue, please send proposals, abstracts, or draft articles to [email protected] no later than Friday, September 12.

Send in a submission. Your peers would like to hear what you are doing.

Code4Lib Journal Editorial Committee

Code4Lib Journal extends deadline for proposals

** Deadline Extended 1 Week -- Now June 20 **

The Code4Lib Journal [ http://journal.code4lib.org/ ] is accepting proposals for articles, book & software reviews, code snippets & algorithms, conference reports, opinion pieces, etc., for its September issue. The Code4Lib Journal strives to fill a communication niche above simple description of software implementations but below pure theoretical digital library investigation. The editorial committee is looking for content that is practical, demonstrates how to exploit technology to create digital library collections and services, or offers insight and forethought regarding the use of computers in any type of library setting.

While articles in the journal should be of a high quality, they need not follow any formal structure or guidelines. Writers should aim for the middle ground between, on the one hand, blog or mailing-list posts, and, on the other hand, articles in traditional journals. We want publishing in the journal to be easy and painless, helping the community to share timely, relevant information that is currently shared all too rarely.

The Journal welcomes submissions at any time on a rolling acceptance basis. We publish quarterly in March, June, September, and December. Proposals received by Friday, June 20, 2008, will receive consideration for publication in issue 4, late September 2008. Upon provisional acceptance, authors will be given an article deadline, typically 6-8 weeks before journal publication. Proposals are typically abstracts sent in the body of an email to [email protected]

Send in a submission. Your peers would like to hear what you are doing.

Ken Varnum
Coordinating Editor, Issue 4
Code4Lib Journal