"Catalog/Cataloging Changes and Web 2.0 Functionality: New Directions for Serials" by Rebecca Kemp

Kemp discusses the organization and presentation of serials data in library catalogs with a particular interest in the relationships between serials. Included is a brief discussion of the application of FRBR concepts to serials and how these concepts along with the use of identifiers (some yet to be created) and superwork records (to fully outline the history of a serial title) could provide a useful framework for the organization of serials data. She also calls for the simplification of cataloging rules, looking to RDA for flexibility for future cataloging needs and citing the CONSER standard record as an improvement currently underway. Outsourcing is another means she cites to simplify the cataloging process. She argues that simpler records have the dual advantage of being more understandable for users and more efficient to create. Another aspect she considers in catalog design, specifically the implementation of web 2.0 functionality. She briefly addresses mash-ups, user-created metadata (a.k.a. tagging), user reviews, and personalization through recommender services as ways of bringing web 2.0 into library catalogs. She also touches on improvements in search technology such as relevance ranking, metasearching, natural language searching, faceted searching, and clustering. How can these advances help users searching for serials titles or articles? Kemp outlines five scenarios for locating known and unknown items, including mock-ups of catalog results screens. Overall, Kemp attempts to cover a lot of ground in this article and as a result does not provide comprehensive coverage on any of the topics included.

Kemp's article can be found in The Serials Librarian, vol. 53, no. 4 (2008), pages 91-112.

NASIG 23rd Annual Conference

Information on the 2008 Conference of the North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG) is now available on their conference web site. This year's conference will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 5-8.

Program highlights of particular interest to serials catalogers include:

• Metadata in a Digital Age: New Models of Creation, Discovery, and Use
• Taking the Sting Out of Multiple Format Serials Displays
• Harnessing the Spiderweb : Collaborative Serial Maintenance, Challenges and Solutions at UC
• MARC Holdings Conversion: Now That We're Here, What Do We Do?
• Workflow Challenges: Does technology dictate workflow?

CONSER meeting summary now available

The CONSER/BIBCO ALA At-Large Meeting Summary from the ALA 2008 Midwinter meeting is now available.

“Building Connections: A Review of the Serials Literature 2004 through 2005” by Cecilia Genereux

Genereux covers three major aspects of serials trends in her literature review for 2004-2005: cost, management, and access. Serials catalogers will be particularly interested in her coverage of access issues. Specific topics addressed include: FRBR and serials; new rules for major and minor title changes; aggregator-neutral records for online serials; changing roles and responsibilities of serials catalogers brought on by the proliferation of e-journals; cataloging of new types of continuing resources such as zines, e-zines, and blogs; and serials holdings records. As with any literature review, readers will want to consult the original works to learn more about the topics.

Genereux’s article can be found in Library Resources & Technical Services, vol. 51, no. 4 (Oct. 2007), pages 293-304.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

CONSER Individual Memberships

Among the recommendations made in the Draft Report on the Future of Bibliographic Control was 1.2.3. "Expand number of PCC participants." I've recently seen a few references to CONSER's pilot "individual member," a cataloger from a CONSER institution who moved to a non-CONSER library. Could individual memberships be a way to expand CONSER participation to skilled catalogers in institutions unable to qualify for CONSER membership? In early November, the PCC Policy Committee met and information on the pilot project can be found in the agenda published on the PCC home page (see Document 5 on pages 10-11). Unfortunately, I was unable to locate any publicly available minutes for this meeting.

MARC Record Services Survey

Rebecca Kemp, Serials Coordinator at University of North Carolina Wilmington, is conducting a survey on MARC Record Services.

You are invited to participate in a study that is designed to gather information about MARC record services from library personnel who use these services to increase coverage of electronic serials in their online catalog.

The results will provide information about how libraries are using different MARC record services, the benefits of using the services, and areas in which the services could be improved. Your participation in the study will provide valuable information about a major aspect of serials cataloging- outsourcing MARC records to vendors. The study will allow you to express your ideas about MARC record services in a formally published article.

It is unclear how long the survey will be available.

Via Catalogablog