Claire-Lise Bénaud

Flexibility in the management of cataloging

SUMMARY Cataloging managers at the University of New Mexico General Library, feeling under pressure from colleagues and administrators to become more efficient, have introduced a flexible management style in the traditional Catalog Department. Instead of pushing staff to work harder and faster, they developed a point system, or quota, for staff catalogers. This allowed them to implement flextime and other liberal options, such as working at home, or in other campus libraries. Expectations of quality and quantity of production have been clarified, and staff morale, generally, has improved, as people feel they have more control over their work. Although still cataloging in the traditional mode, managers feel that improved flexibility will allow them to become more proactive and tackle anticipated changes in a positive manner.

Outsourcing in academic libraries: a selective bibliography

The current library outsourcing debate began in 1993 when Wright State University completely outsourced its cataloging operation. It reached a new high in 1995 when the Hawaii State Public Library System decided to outsource its selection, cataloging, and processing functions to Baker & Taylor, its online journals to Information Access Company, and its automation to Ameritech. A steady stream of articles and a handful of books, covering theoretical and ethical issues, as well as the practical aspects of outsourcing, have appeared in the last decade. This bibliography addresses the broad issues of outsourcing, especially in academic libraries. Outsourcing of public, special, and federal libraries is covered only tangentially. The list is divided into four sections: books on outsourcing in libraries; general articles on the history, theory, and impact of outsourcing on libraries and librarianship; opinion pieces; and articles that relate to individual libraries’ experiences with outsourcing.

Finding Shelf Space in an Academic Library: A Multifaceted Approach

ABSTRACT Finding shelf space in an Association of Research Libraries library is an endeavor fraught with tensions. It presents an irreconcilable problem. On one hand, space is finite. On the other hand, we will continue to buy print books. Our tools for addressing this problem are limited and there are many competing interests. This article will analyze various options and present projects undertaken at the University of New Mexico Libraries that aim to address the space crisis in the stacks. They include a large scale inventory, weeding, reformatting, and the transfer of materials out of the library.

OCLC's WorldShare Management Services: A Brave New World for Catalogers

Like other recent library management systems, OCLCs WorldShare Management Services (WMS) is cloud-based. But unlike the others, WMS opens WorldCat for applications beyond its traditional role as a source of bibliographic records. It enables catalogers to work directly from the Master Record, which no longer needs to be exported to a local system. This article describes the impact of WMS on the roles and functions of cataloging departments, and asks if it is changing the meaning of cataloging. It concludes that while the workflows are changed dramatically, the profession of cataloging remains relevant.

The Lee Marmon photographs: chronicles of the west

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to document the acquisition and processing of an important Native American pictorial archive, the Lee Marmon Pictorial Collection, and to elucidate some of its research and cultural value. Design/methodology/approach – This paper combines research into archival and secondary sources with documentation of professional procedures relating to the acquisition, processing, and digitizing, as well as the content of the Lee Marmon Pictorial Collection. Findings – The paper finds that working directly with the creator of the archive increased its value significantly by both improving the archives organization and enriching the identifying information accompanying the items. It also shows the broad scope and valuable content of the Lee Marmon Pictorial Collection. Research limitations/implications – The collaborative efforts of the archives creator and its processors made available to the public an archive that will undoubtedly contribute to scholarship in a number of fie...

J.B. Jackson, cultural geographer:evolution of an archive

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to document the acquisition and processing of an important landscape architecture archive, the J.B. Jackson Collection, and making it available for scholars and researchers.Design/methodology/approach – The first part of the article describes the importance of Jacksons contribution to landscape architecture and his professional legacy. This legacy consisted in a large collection of slides, scattered among various individuals and institutions. The authors then address how the various parts of the collection were identified, acquired, digitized and brought to the University of New Mexico (UNM). Metadata creation and issues of copyright are also discussed.Findings – The paper finds that it requires considerable professional effort and networking to take a working collection and transform it into an archive that has intellectual cogency.Research limitations/implications – UNMs effort to acquire, preserve and make this collection widely available will inspire future s...

Latin American and Iberian Posters: The Sam Slick Collection at the University of New Mexico

ABSTRACT The University of New Mexico General Library acquired a unique collection of political posters from Latin America and Spain, covering the last quarter of the 20th Century. The Sam L. Slick Collection of Latin American & Iberian Political Posters, named after the original collector, includes over 12,000 posters and represents a broad spectrum of political and social movements. It is a rich resource for political historians and art historians. This article describes the makeup of the collection, its history, its acquisition by the UNM Library, and the efforts that have gone into its preservation, cataloging, and digitization.

OCLC's public service systems: EPIC and FirstSearch

OCLC entered a new phase of information delivery with the introduction of EPIC in 1990 and FirstSearch in 1991. Both systems are designed for use in public services: EPIC by librarians, FirstSearch by library patrons. EPIC functions like other traditional online services on the market, both in terms of searching and pricing. In contrast, FirstSearch incorporates innovative searching and pricing features that set it apart from traditional online search systems. Both offer access to the vast OCLC Online Union Catalog. This article will analyze the similarities and differences, strengths and weaknesses of the two new OCLC services