Christopher Cronin

From Testing to Implementation: Managing Full-Scale RDA Adoption at the University of Chicago

The University of Chicago Library was a formal participant in the U.S. National Libraries’ Resource Description and Access (RDA), Test from October–December 2010. Immediately following the test period, the Library implemented RDA for original cataloging. This article will reflect on our RDA testing experience, and will address some of the major issues related to managing its adoption, including: staff training; implications on cataloging policies; preparing the integrated library system (ILS) for RDA metadata; managing the integration of RDA with Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR2) records; major costs associated with full implementation; and finally, what RDA may mean for the future of our metadata infrastructures.

The flight plan of a digital initiatives project, part 2

Purpose – To provide the results of research to evaluate the usability of a University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries digital initiatives project that provides online access to historical Aerial Photographs of Colorado.Design/methodology/approach – This paper describes usability testing conducted as a part of a user‐centered redesign. The three stages of the evaluation – a requirements analysis, a heuristic evaluation, and user testing – are explained and the findings are discussed.Findings – The usability testing revealed the needs of the projects target user group and identified issues with the interface that will be addressed in its redesign. It has also contributed to the larger understanding of how researchers use digital Aerial Photographs and their preferred methods of access and desired functionalities.Practical implications – Results from the study will be used to guide the redesign of the Aerial Photographs of Colorado digital library and can be generalized to add to a broader understanding o...

The flight plan of a digital initiatives project

Purpose – To present a case study of a digital initiative for cartographic materials in order to provide a reference for other institutions embarking on similar projects.Design/methodology/approach – Describes the technical and practical details of the processes involved in georeferencing and providing online access to scanned aerial photographs.Findings – In the short time that the site has been live, the Map Library has already seen a marked increase in reference queries from both local and national users.Practical implications – From a practical standpoint, the project would not have been a success without collaboration between map, metadata, and systems librarians.Originality/value – To date, little has been published about digital initiatives projects providing online access to historical aerial photographs, a distinct and complex subset of cartographic materials. It is hoped that this case study will allow other institutions to learn from the approach and experience of the University of Colorado at ...

Providing Metadata for Compound Digital Objects: Strategic Planning for an Institution's First Use of METS, MODS, and MIX

The University of Colorado at Boulder recently engaged in a grant-funded pilot project to use Metadata Encoding & Transmission Standard (METS), Metadata Object Description Standard (MODS), and NISO Metadata for Images in XML Schema (MIX) for a collection of digitized Sanborn fire insurance maps of the state. This article will draw on this experience to outline the processes and decision making required to implement new metadata structures, and will offer some insights on planning strategically for an institutions first use of these increasingly important metadata standards.

Final Report of the Task Force on Cost/Value Assessment of Bibliographic Control

The Task Force on Cost/Value Assessment of Bibliographic Control was charged with identifying measures of the cost, benefit, and value of bibliographic control for key stakeholder communities, and developing a plan for implementing these measures. The objective of this work was not to develop a complete model of costs and value for bibliographic data, but to begin to identify sound measures that can inform decisions by those engaged in the creation, exchange, and use of bibliographic data. Given the lack of research in this area and our desire to move forward discussions about quantifying the value of bibliographic control in an environment where the vocabulary for doing so does not yet exist, the Task Force on Cost/Value Assessment of Bibliographic Control proposes seven operational definitions of value and offers suggestions for research in these areas. The seven operational definitions of value are: (1) Discovery success; (2) Use; (3) Display understanding; (4) Ability of our data to operate on the open web and interoperate with vendors/ suppliers in the bibliographic supply chain; (5) Ability to support the FRBR user tasks; (6) Throughput/Timeliness; (7) Ability to support the librarys administrative/management goals.

CDP Dublin Core Metadata Best Practices (Version 2.1.1)

Application of these best practices will result in standardized Dublin Core records that: (1) enhance online search and retrieval accuracy in local and shared databases (i.e., union catalogs); (2) improve resource discovery capabilities; (3) improve quality control of metadata records; facilitate inter-institutional interoperability. These guidelines have been created to address the needs of a diverse audience of cultural heritage institutions composed of museums, libraries, historical societies, archives, etc. This document seeks to accommodate different backgrounds and metadata skill levels of those charged with creating metadata records, including catalogers, curators, archivists, librarians, Web site developers, database administrators, volunteers, authors, editors, or anyone interested in creating digital libraries of cultural heritage materials. We have attempted to provide clear and concise explanation of terms and concepts, as well as examples describing the varied resources found in cultural heritage institutions.