Maintaining Collections in CONTENTdm is the third webinar in the basic series for users new to CONTENTdm. This course provides instruction on editing collection items through CONTENTdm administration and the CONTENTdm Project Client. Additionally, the course explores workflows that make it possible through the use of tab-delimited data to import significant numbers of compound objects and/or legacy metadata in one operation.
Digital Initiatives & Metadata News
This course provides instruction on the structure of CONTENTdm, navigating and using CONTENTdm Collection Administration to create and manage a digital collection, as well as using the CONTENTdm Project Client to prepare digital items for addition to a collection. After completing this web-based training, learners will have the foundational knowledge required to begin using CONTENTdm to manage digital items.
In the February 28 ASIST webinar "From MARC silos to linked data silos?" Osma Suominen of the National Library of Finland addressed the more practical aspects of moving from a MARC-based world to a Linked Data one. In discussing the current situation, Suominen notes that there are many different approaches in use, for modeling and encoding data. He points out that the "proliferation of data models limits the reusability of bibliographic data. In effect, libraries have moved from MARC silos to Linked Data silos of incompatible data models."
In July 2016, OCLC released Connexion client 2.63 and announced that users will not be able to log in with previous versions after February 28, 2017. There was a period of time the upgrade message did not properly display upon opening Connexion client so OCLC is extending the deadline to April 3, 2017 to allow for additional time to upgrade. This means that on April 3rd users of Connexion client 2.40, 2.50 and 2.51 will no longer be able login.
Preservation Week (April 23-29) is an opportunity to bring awareness and connect your community to preservation events, activities, and resources. Visit the ALA website to find resources that can help with saving and caring for items, disaster recovery, and how to get started with preservation. There are also resources (event planner, logos, bookmarks, posters, handouts, etc) available to help plan a Preservation Week event at your library. Two free webinars will be offered live, or view recordings of any of the past Preservation Week webinars.
On March 18, OCLC released the latest update to WorldShare Collection Manager. This release includes several new features and enhancements such as the ability to edit grouped OCNs for any WorldCat knowledge base title, a new “Close All Tabs” feature. a new option to clear the search box with a single click, and a redesigned search results page.
The RDA Steering Committee (RSC) has released their usual February update to the RDA rules. Many of the changes this time around are related to the decision made in November 2016 to adopt the new IFLA Library Reference Model (LRM) as a conceptual model. This replaces the Functional Requirements suite of standards (FRBR, FRAD, FRSAD, etc.) that are now superseded by the LRM. Though most of the changes required to adapt to this new standard will take effect in the April 2018 release of RDA, it is clear that the RSC is laying the groundwork now.
The Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS), a division of ALA, is offering a webinar exploring the issues surrounding RDA Rule 9.7. This is the rule that concerns recording a person's gender in the name authority record. Previously the instructions provided exactly three controlled-vocabulary options: male, female, or not known. This webinar will provide a basic introduction to queer theory and gender non-binary identities, explain the process a group of catalogers took to get the rule changed, and describe current best practices for recording gender in RDA name authority records.
A new OCLC report Advancing the National Digital Platform: The State of Digitization in US Public and State Libraries contains findings from a needs assessement and gap analysis of public library digitization activities. The findings in this report will inform planning around participation in the National Digital Platform (NDP), and also includes recommendations by project partners that could strengthen the public library role in the NDP.
The Minitex Contract Cataloging program has been busy this winter! We have processed and completed projects for many libraries around the region, including Concordia College, Southwest Minnesota State University, Washington County Library, South Central Technical College - Mankato, and PACCAR Technical Library. Our catalogers process materials of all types and formats, including CDs, DVDs, technical reports, and of course monographs.