Cataloging Efficiencies: Managing Metadata for E-book Collections

ALA Annual 2012Anaheim, CAHolly Tomren@htomren

My context: Academic library About 150,000 ebooks About 20 ebook

providers, multiple collections

Small staff Individual cataloging for most packages

not feasible; look for batch solutions

Ebook metadata Different providers = different workflows Different frequencies Notifications are rare Not all vendors provide MARC records Quality of vendor MARC records varies Not all vendors provide info about

changed records (UPD, DEL) Few provide OCLC numbers/holdings

Workflow: Varies by Vendor Example A: WorldCat Collection Set;

monthly email notification, retrieve via FTP

Example B: generate files on demand from web interface; separate NEW and DEL files; not OCLC records

Example C: generate file on demand from web interface; 1 mixed file (NEW & DEL); no control numbers, no match point

Workflow: Varies by Vendor Example D: generate file from web

interface based on date (broken); no DEL notifications

Example E: provides records through multiple sources but coverage different in each source; lots of cleanup, bad links

Example F: updates collection constantly, but MARC records only once a year

Workflow: Varies by Vendor Example G: provides records and

notification; OCLC numbers not in records but in separate spreadsheet

Example H: No MARC records; title spreadsheet available

Example I: No MARC records, no title list; check website manually

Sometimes looks like this…

Tools of the Trade MarcEdit Excel Local scripts Load Profiles (III) Global Update (III) Listservs

MARCEDIT-L BATCH-L

WCKB Pilot Beta started in March 2012 Currently only using WCKB for ebooks,

not ejournals 5 ebook collections managed in WCKB

to date As beta tester, comparing each collection

to records from other sources So far, extremely accurate and timely

WCKB Workflow Select collections in KB, set up MARC

customization options (one time) Daily record notifications via email Download files via FTP Clearly identified NEW, UPD, DEL

Separate with MarcEdit if necessary Load records without editing Minimal spot checking in Global Update

WCKB Benefits Retrieve records for all providers in one

place, including NEW, UPD, DEL Notification – no more elaborate schedules Customizable records – less in-house editing URLs are correct Efficient way to manage provider-neutral

records OCLC holdings set, OCLC numbers included Free with OCLC cataloging subscription

Greater Discoverability Worldcat.org, WorldCat Local Anything powered by WorldCat API

(Mobile apps, Google “Find in a Library,” Selection tools, LibX, etc.)

WCKB Wishlist Improved record matching More ebook collections in KB “Expert Community” functionality

… all of this is on the way

Conclusion More efficient workflow More thorough and accurate access to

ebooks in our catalog & discovery tools Still a combination of WCKB + other

methods for now, but will move more ebooks to WCKB as time goes on

Thank you!

Holly TomrenHead, Metadata Services

Drexel University Librariesholly.tomren@drexel.edu