Staying Afloat in a Sea of E-Staying Afloat in a Sea of E-journalsjournals

An Automated Process for An Automated Process for

Cataloging Electronic SerialsCataloging Electronic Serials

David BanushNathan Rupp

Cornell University

EndUser April 15, 2004

E-Journal Access at CornellE-Journal Access at Cornell

Title-level access in catalogTitle-level access in catalog Detailed holdingsDetailed holdings Separate Web-based e-journal title Separate Web-based e-journal title

listlist

Treading Water, 2002Treading Water, 2002

E-journal growthE-journal growth MulversMulvers Separate recordsSeparate records Sleek recordsSleek records E-journal title listE-journal title list

Mulver recordMulver record

245245 $a Title$a Title

300300 $a Physical description$a Physical description

5XX 5XX $a Notes (print and e-$a Notes (print and e-versions)versions)

650 _0 650 _0 $a Subject heading$a Subject heading

856 40856 40 $u link to JSTOR version of title$u link to JSTOR version of title

856 40856 40 $u link to ProQuest version of title$u link to ProQuest version of title

856 40856 40 $u link to Elsevier version of titlw$u link to Elsevier version of titlw

Mulver (OPAC view (1))Mulver (OPAC view (1))

Mulver (OPAC view (2))Mulver (OPAC view (2))

Separate recordsSeparate records

Record One:Record One: 245245 $a Title$a Title

300300 $a Description$a Description5XX 5XX $a Notes$a Notes650 _0 650 _0 $a Subject heading$a Subject heading

Record Two:Record Two:245245 $a Title $h [electronic resource].$a Title $h [electronic resource].5XX5XX $a Notes$a Notes650 _0650 _0 $a Subject heading$a Subject heading856 40856 40 $u link to ProQuest version of title$u link to ProQuest version of title

““Sleek” recordSleek” record

Sleek record (OPAC view)Sleek record (OPAC view)

How we got where we How we got where we werewere

Evolving national practicesEvolving national practices Ad hoc local strategiesAd hoc local strategies Long-term consequencesLong-term consequences

Maintenance ChallengesMaintenance Challenges

Numerous large aggregator Numerous large aggregator collectionscollections

Many changes to aggregator contentMany changes to aggregator content Different approaches to cataloging Different approaches to cataloging

e-journalse-journals Fewer staff to maintain e-journals Fewer staff to maintain e-journals

manuallymanually No coherent strategyNo coherent strategy

New approach needed…New approach needed…

Goals of E-journal Task Goals of E-journal Task ForceForce

Develop comprehensive Develop comprehensive strategy for dealing with e-strategy for dealing with e-journal maintenancejournal maintenance

Balance rapid access with low Balance rapid access with low costscosts

Repurpose metadataRepurpose metadata

Identifying E-journals (1)Identifying E-journals (1)

Challenges identifying titles in Challenges identifying titles in VoyagerVoyager

Changing e-journal coding practicesChanging e-journal coding practices Use of different locations for e-Use of different locations for e-

holdingsholdings Other errors/inconsistencies in Other errors/inconsistencies in

practicespractices

Identifying E-journals (2)Identifying E-journals (2)

Challenges using MS AccessChallenges using MS Access No single query could retrieve all titlesNo single query could retrieve all titles Lack of speed in searching databaseLack of speed in searching database No way to check accuracy of search No way to check accuracy of search

resultsresults

Identifying E-journals (3)Identifying E-journals (3)

Coding e-journalsCoding e-journals 899 field899 field 948 field948 field ImplementationImplementation

948 and 899948 and 899

Decisions…Decisions…Decisions…Decisions…

Mulvers?Mulvers? Separate records?Separate records? Aggregator neutral approach?Aggregator neutral approach? Combination of those threeCombination of those three

Separate Records…Why?Separate Records…Why?

Ease of useEase of use– Utilization of metadata provided by Utilization of metadata provided by

external vendorsexternal vendors– Tracking different versions of a title Tracking different versions of a title

supplied by different aggregatorssupplied by different aggregators– Maintenance of an entire set of titles Maintenance of an entire set of titles

from a single aggregatorfrom a single aggregator Cost and time savingsCost and time savings Compatibility with ENCompassCompatibility with ENCompass

Data CleanupData Cleanup

Identification of mulversIdentification of mulvers Tools used to identify records for Tools used to identify records for

cleanupcleanup Kinds of mulversKinds of mulvers

– With external dataWith external data– Without external dataWithout external data– Multi-mulversMulti-mulvers

Manual vs. automated cleanupManual vs. automated cleanup Division of laborDivision of labor

Harvest InterfaceHarvest Interface

VgerSelectVgerSelect

Ongoing MaintenanceOngoing Maintenance

Automated maintenanceAutomated maintenance– Within the e-journal maintenance streamWithin the e-journal maintenance stream

» ProQuestProQuest» SerialsSolutionsSerialsSolutions

– Outside the e-journal maintenance streamOutside the e-journal maintenance stream Manual maintenanceManual maintenance

– Excluded aggregatorsExcluded aggregators– Single titlesSingle titles– ““Immediate” accessImmediate” access

ConsiderationsConsiderations– Time lag between data update and loadsTime lag between data update and loads– Passive/ad hoc maintenancePassive/ad hoc maintenance

Currently…Currently…

First data loadFirst data load Subsequent data loadsSubsequent data loads ProblemsProblems

BenefitsBenefits

Regular maintenance at minimal costRegular maintenance at minimal cost Ability to change approaches/replace Ability to change approaches/replace

records en masserecords en masse Generation of e-journal information Generation of e-journal information

on demandon demand– Aids collection development decisionsAids collection development decisions– Populates e-journal listPopulates e-journal list

Infrastructure can be applied Infrastructure can be applied elsewhereelsewhere

LimitationsLimitations

Multiple records for e-journals/confusion Multiple records for e-journals/confusion for library usersfor library users

Records lack subject headings and Records lack subject headings and classificationclassification

Reliance on external providers for Reliance on external providers for accurate dataaccurate data

E-journal title listE-journal title list– No left anchored search of databaseNo left anchored search of database– Exact matchesExact matches– AestheticsAesthetics

E-Journal Title ListE-Journal Title List

Balance…or Brave New Balance…or Brave New World?World?

Large number of aggregators Large number of aggregators Changing workforceChanging workforce

– Reduction in sizeReduction in size– Shifting focus to digital library workShifting focus to digital library work

Different methods of accessDifferent methods of access

We haven’t drowned…We haven’t drowned…Can we save others?Can we save others?

Appropriate for CUL, not Appropriate for CUL, not necessarily for other librariesnecessarily for other libraries

Coding system can be extended to Coding system can be extended to other electronic resourcesother electronic resources

Catalog as data repositoryCatalog as data repository Use of external tools/services—Use of external tools/services—

vendor and home-grownvendor and home-grown

Questions?Questions?