Author Topic: Introduction  (Read 190 times)

RichB

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Introduction
« on: August 17, 2020, 04:08:07 pm »
5) Topic: Summing up - Workflows (systems)/EDI, local practices

Finally, in terms of summing up, this is an opportunity for us to share our local workflows and practices. What do each of us do differently that we can share? Is there additional training that can come out of Wednesday’s discussion that will help us improve our data quality (e.g. using MarcEdit to ‘tidy’ data)?   

Questions to consider:
•   How many of us were fully aware of the Joint Consortia Framework Agreement for the supply of Books, E-books, Standing Orders and Related Materials before the meeting?
•   Is it unrealistic to think that a unified framework in response to this question is possible?
•   How do you think we, as a group, can apply what we’ve learnt today to improve our own workflow/local practices?
•   Should quality data be the responsibility of library suppliers or publishers? Who’s best suited to provide quality data? And can/should we try and influence their decisions?
•   Perhaps some of us disagree and don’t believe data quality is a significant issue and our time would be better spent working on other projects?

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RichB

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Re: Introduction
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2020, 01:45:55 pm »
Well, it's come round quickly but what are we going to take away from today's discussion?

In response to the questions:
1) No in a very deep way - I feel if we had more awareness of this we could perhaps influence it more.
2) Unfortunately I think no at the moment. Galen's earlier comment about 'other agencies' alluded to this. Different parties often don't have shared interests or even talk to each other.
3) I'll leave that one up to you all - but as members of the same consortia we could unite around specific question to voice our concerns - I think this is where we could have the biggest impact.
4) I'm not sure and this relates again to what Galen said earlier - it should probably be both.
5) I think it is an issue but not perhaps as big a one as we might imagine. Nick's posts today demonstrate a very pragmatic approach and I suspect that in the current climate is probably the way to go.

Perhaps after this Will and I can put together some of the key points from today to inform us of how we move forward.
 
« Last Edit: August 19, 2020, 01:55:49 pm by RichB »

Galen

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Re: Introduction
« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2020, 01:50:43 pm »
My answers:

1) No - i wasn't fully aware of framework agreement
2) A unified framework is possible but requires buy-in
3) As a group we could use todays learning to reflect on how we can collaborate - to move away from local practices
4) Quality metadata is all of our responsibilities - enriching, creating, maintaining, preserving etc. and advocating improvements / influencing is easier with a combined voice.
5) There's always plenty of other projects on the go! Solving the issues with metadata isn't going to happen overnight! we do need to realistic and pragmatic in our approaches
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Jason Starksfield

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Re: Introduction
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2020, 01:53:09 pm »
Regarding point 4 - whilst I agree it should be all our responsibilities, the publisher probably has the most motivation as the more their works that are used because of ease of discoverability, the more business they're likely to generate.

Maybe it'll take their mind off finding new ways to charge silly money for textbooks.
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Corinne Lambert

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Re: Introduction
« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2020, 01:57:56 pm »
It would be useful to know more about the capabilities of marc edit -  we can use the Alma LMS to do a lot of collection work so we would have to decide which was most effective for any work we had to do.

•   Should quality data be the responsibility of library suppliers or publishers? Who’s best suited to provide quality data? And can/should we try and influence their decisions?

I think the library suppliers should be responsible for better quality data to an agreed standard with their customer, and if they can't provide it on  particular titles they should flag this up to their customers so that they  can fix it in house. This would allow us to focus on certain records and save time and effort.

The importance of accurate metadata is even more obvious at the moment as the catalogue is currently the only access to the library holdings in many institutions whose doors are closed due to the pandemic.

Corinne
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RichB

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Re: Introduction
« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2020, 02:00:31 pm »
Galen, you're right to remind us that we are all responsible for ensuring the quality of data. It is ultimately a 'combined voice' that will bring this about but, as Jason states, publishers are at the heart of these relationships and if libraries could have a better relationship with them... .

RichB

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Re: Introduction
« Reply #6 on: August 19, 2020, 02:06:00 pm »
"The importance of accurate metadata is even more obvious at the moment as the catalogue is currently the only access to the library holdings in many institutions whose doors are closed due to the pandemic."

Yes, Corinne and perhaps this will enable colleagues who are 'unclear' about our roles to see the benefit of quality metadata. The amount of queries I've received has gone up over recent months as colleagues are investigating the collection more.
« Last Edit: August 19, 2020, 02:26:47 pm by RichB »
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Nick Williams

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Re: Introduction
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2020, 02:13:58 pm »
I wasn’t aware of the Joint Consortia Framework Agreement before the meeting. It’s good to have read it and realise that the quality variation we as cataloguers / metadata librarians experience is due to there being no centrally negotiated specifications for suppliers of Marc records to adhere to.
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RichB

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Re: Introduction
« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2020, 02:26:04 pm »
That's all folks - but please continue the discussion for as long as you like on here.

As I said above Will & I will try and put something together that captures today's discussion. It's become clear that there are areas where we can work together for the greater good (e.g. on influencing consortia, suppliers).

Thanks for all you contributions and/or reading all of this - at the risk of repeating myself, there's no reason why the conversations can't continue here and some of us (i.e. me) need some time to reflect on what others have written. I feel there's more in Galen's & Nick's posts that I need to draw out, particularly on the necessity of collaborative working.

Best wishes, Richard 
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