The Future of Serials Cataloging,CONSER and the ISSN: Conversations from the Field

What does the future hold for the shape of serials to come and for cataloging these and other continuing resources? How should cataloging change to cope with still-unknown types of continuing resources? Will there still be a need for cataloging? For CONSER? For ISSN? How can libraries position themselves to partner with nonlibrary metadata creators in a future linked data environment? Four serials experts discuss these and other questions in a free-ranging conversation about the future of serials cataloging.     

CONSER Updates: The Serials Cataloging Cooperative Training Program at Ten Years and Revision of Integrating Resources: A Cataloging Manual

In this column, CONSER specialist Hien Nguyen recognizes the ten-year anniversary of the Serials Cataloging Cooperative Training Program. She discusses program successes, including the development of new material for Web delivery. CONSER coordinator Les Hawkins gives an update on the revision of Integrating Resources: A Cataloging Manual, the basic documentation used by CONSER and BIBCO members to create and maintain records for integrating resources.     

CONSER Updates: The Serials Cataloging Cooperative Training Program at Ten Years and Revision of Integrating Resources: A Cataloging Manual

Abstract

In this column, CONSER specialist Hien Nguyen recognizes the ten-year anniversary of the Serials Cataloging Cooperative Training Program. She discusses program successes, including the development of new material for Web delivery. CONSER coordinator Les Hawkins gives an update on the revision of Integrating Resources: A Cataloging Manual, the basic documentation used by CONSER and BIBCO members to create and maintain records for integrating resources.     

An Interview with Jean Hirons,CONSER Coordinator

Abstract

Jean Hirons, Cooperative Online Serials (CONSER) Coordinator, retired June 30 from the Library of Congress after a career of over thirty years in libraries. Jean plans to begin a new career as a pastel painter. I spoke to Jean in May 2003 to get her views on CONSER's role in developing standards for cataloging electronic resources. Serials Review 2003; 29:233–236.     

Scoring the Quality of E-Serials MARC Records Using Java

ABSTRACT

In 2015, the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (UIUC) adopted a policy of cataloging electronic serials in the online catalog to represent the Library's large electronic journal holdings. Historically there had been no consistent policy of cataloging e-serials at UIUC, so this decision also required retroactive cataloging of the Library's existing holdings. In order to add the more than 100,000 titles to which the library has access, batch searching and bulk loading records are necessary. This can be particularly challenging with serials records, due to bibliographic changes (such as title and publisher) and record duplication in OCLC WorldCat. This column describes a Java program, written by the author, which aids in selecting high-quality records from batch searches to be bulk loaded into the catalog. The program scores the quality of Machine-Readable Cataloging Record (MARC) records based on data in a select number of fields and discards records that fail to meet minimum criteria, such as correct format or language of cataloging. The program ultimately ensures that certain base criteria are met, while creating more efficiency in the process of bulk loading e-serials records.     

Serials Digest

Abstract

A collection manager and an acquisition librarian discuss difficult decisions to be made regarding electronic resources and associated value-added services. Balancing budget constraints with patron demands for easy access to information requires librarians to reevaluate assumptions about the electronic products and associated services that have quickly become staples of library life, even as these staples become increasingly untenable. The authors scrutinize the cost/benefit of continuing value-added services, such as providing access to abstracting and indexing tools and full MARC cataloging records of journal titles, as well as considering the adoption of new services such as federated search engines and link resolvers.     

The Effects of E-journal Management Tools and Services on Serials Cataloging

E-journal management tools and services such as MARC record services, A-to-Z lists, and link resolvers are changing e-journal cataloging. This column explores these changes in the academic environment through interviews with ten librarians representing eight universities. Three areas of change in serials cataloging are explored: (1) changes to the MARC record, including how libraries are adding/creating MARC records for their catalogs, the number and type of MARC records being created and linking within MARC bibliographic and holdings records; (2) the manner in which serials catalogers are being informed of changes; and (3) the evolving role of the serials cataloger. Future trends and advice for evolving workflow practices conclude the discussion.     

The Effects of E-journal Management Tools and Services on Serials Cataloging

Abstract

E-journal management tools and services such as MARC record services, A-to-Z lists, and link resolvers are changing e-journal cataloging. This column explores these changes in the academic environment through interviews with ten librarians representing eight universities. Three areas of change in serials cataloging are explored: (1) changes to the MARC record, including how libraries are adding/creating MARC records for their catalogs, the number and type of MARC records being created and linking within MARC bibliographic and holdings records; (2) the manner in which serials catalogers are being informed of changes; and (3) the evolving role of the serials cataloger. Future trends and advice for evolving workflow practices conclude the discussion.     

Electronic Journals: Cataloging and Management Practices in Academic Libraries

The growth and availability of electronic journals offer libraries the opportunity to provide end users with quick and easy access to more journals than ever before, thereby creating a complex new workload in academic libraries. Libraries have addressed the evolving challenges unique to electronic resources by creating new policies and workflows and dedicating staff to work on the processes, despite the lack of best practices. In the fall of 2009, a survey was distributed to ninety-five libraries at peer institutions to gather information about their policies and practices for cataloging and managing electronic journals in order to gauge the current status of electronic journal management among these peer institutions. This paper reports on the survey findings related to cataloging approach, sources for bibliographic records, methods for identifying problems, and the staff and staff hours dedicated to electronic journals.     

Electronic Journal Forum: Defining an “Access Level” Catalog Record Using MARC 21 and AACR2

Abstract

The Library of Congress (LC) is in the process of developing a new level of MARC 21 and AACR2 cataloging for non-serial Internet resources called “access” level. This article briefly describes the impetus behind the creation of this new standard, information about the proposed standard itself, and the results of a test conducted at LC using the core data set and cataloging guidelines. The future plans of the Library for implementing and possibly expanding the use of access level are identified.     

E-serial Titles That Disappear

Abstract

CONSER (Cooperative Online Serials Program) members are currently dealing with the problem of how to catalog electronic journals that over time do not retain their titles on earlier issues. The dilemma for catalogers is whether to use the successive entry rules of AACR2 (Anglo-American Cataloging Rules) for serials or to apply the latest entry approach used for integrating resources. CONSER members are currently working on a discussion paper that will weigh the pros and cons of successive and latest entry to be presented at the CONSER Operations Committee meeting in May 2002. Discussion of the issues will provide the background for a Library of Congress Rule Interpretation. Serials Review 2002; 28:222–224.     

Electronic Journal Forum: CONSER Summit on Serials in the Digital Environment

Abstract

The CONSER Summit on Serials in the Digital Environment was held March 18–19, 2004. Attendees represented all library service areas, commercial information services, and standards development. The program included panel discussions and facilitated breakout sessions that provided specific recommendations for shaping CONSER and the Program for Cooperative Cataloging efforts in providing metadata for electronic resources.     

Still Partners After All These Years: Ulrich's and ISSN

Since 2000, an Ulrich's Periodicals Directory (Ulrich's) employee has been located in the Library of Congress's U.S. ISSN Center at the Library of Congress to assign ISSN and create records for both Ulrich's and the international ISSN Register/CONSER database. How this arrangement came about, how it has succeeded over the past ten years, and the broad potential for this partnership becoming a model in both organizations for future automated data sharing and data linking is the subject of this article.     

One for Nine: The Shared Cataloging Program of the California Digital Library

Abstract

In 1999, the California Digital Library (CDL) began a new cooperative venture, the Shared Cataloging Program, to improve access to its growing collection of electronic resources. Now known within the University of California (UC) as the SCP, the Shared Cataloging Program, based at UC San Diego, distributes ready-to-use cataloging records for all electronic titles licensed by the CDL to each of the other eight (soon to be nine) physical UC campuses. The SCP is the result of an intensive systemwide planning process fostered by a desire for an innovative approach to providing traditional bibliographic access to large numbers of electronic resources. It was launched out of pragmatic necessity along with an institutional commitment to the cooperative ideals of labor-savings, experimentation, and the search for “best practices.” This article will describe its genesis, current operation, one library's use of the records, and issues for future development. Serials Review 2002; 28:4–12.     

Do You Have Any Ditko?:: Comic Books,MARC, FRBR and Findability

This article provides a background for Comics Librarianship and the sources which can be, and are, used. The author describes the application of FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records) for serials to the cataloging of the comic book format and ways to adapt these methods to flat MARC records, to aid in retrieval of items. Sample records are included for illustration of methods.     

On Box–Muller Transformation and Simulation of Normal Record Data

Record data are commonly encountered in many fields such as sports, geography, finance, and reliability. In this article, we use the well-known Box–Muller transformation to develop an efficient method of simulating record data from the normal distribution. Another method based on exponential records is also discussed. Then, the performance of these algorithms is compared with some standard simulation methods.     

Resource Description and Access: It’s Really Not So Bad

Abstract

This article provides a background for Comics Librarianship and the sources which can be, and are, used. The author describes the application of FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records) for serials to the cataloging of the comic book format and ways to adapt these methods to flat MARC records, to aid in retrieval of items. Sample records are included for illustration of methods.     

Serials Staffing for the Twenty-First Century and Beyond

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the technical services issues relating to the future of serials staffing, particularly for serials catalogers. Trends in cataloging procedures, technical services reorganizations, and the changing roles of professional and paraprofessional employees affect present and future responsibilities of serials work. The author also examines major technological innovations that have affected staffing needs, including journals in electronic format, vendor-supplied holdings data, automatic generation of bibliographic records, and the potential implications of proposed serials cataloging rule changes on the way in which serials will be managed in libraries. Serials Review 2002; 28:195–200.     

A note on using the F-measure for evaluating record linkage algorithms

Record linkage is the process of identifying and linking records about the same entities from one or more databases. Record linkage can be viewed as a classification problem where the aim is to decide whether a pair of records is a match (i.e. two records refer to the same real-world entity) or a non-match (two records refer to two different entities). Various classification techniques—including supervised, unsupervised, semi-supervised and active learning based—have been employed for record linkage. If ground truth data in the form of known true matches and non-matches are available, the quality of classified links can be evaluated. Due to the generally high class imbalance in record linkage problems, standard accuracy or misclassification rate are not meaningful for assessing the quality of a set of linked records. Instead, precision and recall, as commonly used in information retrieval and machine learning, are used. These are often combined into the popular F-measure, which is the harmonic mean of precision and recall. We show that the F-measure can also be expressed as a weighted sum of precision and recall, with weights which depend on the linkage method being used. This reformulation reveals that the F-measure has a major conceptual weakness: the relative importance assigned to precision and recall should be an aspect of the problem and the researcher or user, but not of the particular linkage method being used. We suggest alternative measures which do not suffer from this fundamental flaw.