The Expert Community Experiment - and Finding Community Experts
Yesterday, Mary Ann Laun, chair of OCLC's Members Council Cataloging & Metadata Service Group, led their session as part of OCLC's February virtual meeting of Members Council [http://www.oclc.org/us/en/memberscouncil/meetings/2009/february/2009februaryagenda.pdf]. The session covered two topics: OCLC's Expert Community Experiment, and the results of a survey of technical services staff. I thought both topics would be of keen interest to Metalogue readers.
OCLC's Expert Community Experiment creates a wiki-like environment around WorldCat cataloging records so that anyone with a full cataloging authorization can participate in making records better. The experiment will begin the week of February 16, and will continue for 6 months. No change or signup is required at the institution end - if you have a full cataloging authorization, you will see these changes automatically. We encourage you to discuss and ask questions on the OCLC-CAT listserv [https://www3.oclc.org/app/listserv/] and OCLC staff will be monitoring ASKQC@oclc.org if you want to ask a private question. More information, including a schedule for upcoming webinars, can be found at the Expert Community page: http://www.oclc.org/us/en/worldcat/catalog/quality/expert/default.htm.
Last fall, the OCLC Members Council Cataloging and Metadata Service Group conducted a survey of Members Council delegates and OCLC-CAT listserv readers about issues facing technical services departments. Here are the top three issues selected by respondents to the survey:
Yesterday, OCLC staff were asked how they might assist the technical services community in addressing these issues. We would like to begin our exploration of ways in which OCLC might partner with other appropriate individuals and groups by asking readers of Metalogue to answer a couple of questions. Please make your comments on this blog post; they will be most appreciated. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
OCLC's Expert Community Experiment creates a wiki-like environment around WorldCat cataloging records so that anyone with a full cataloging authorization can participate in making records better. The experiment will begin the week of February 16, and will continue for 6 months. No change or signup is required at the institution end - if you have a full cataloging authorization, you will see these changes automatically. We encourage you to discuss and ask questions on the OCLC-CAT listserv [https://www3.oclc.org/app/listserv/] and OCLC staff will be monitoring ASKQC@oclc.org if you want to ask a private question. More information, including a schedule for upcoming webinars, can be found at the Expert Community page: http://www.oclc.org/us/en/worldcat/catalog/quality/expert/default.htm.
Last fall, the OCLC Members Council Cataloging and Metadata Service Group conducted a survey of Members Council delegates and OCLC-CAT listserv readers about issues facing technical services departments. Here are the top three issues selected by respondents to the survey:
- training in Next Generation concepts
- creating new skills sets (what are they and how do we build them)
- transitioning from traditional duties to new ones
Yesterday, OCLC staff were asked how they might assist the technical services community in addressing these issues. We would like to begin our exploration of ways in which OCLC might partner with other appropriate individuals and groups by asking readers of Metalogue to answer a couple of questions. Please make your comments on this blog post; they will be most appreciated. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
- What do "Next Generation concepts" mean to you? Which of these are particularly relevant to technical services staff?
- What groups or individuals do you know of in the technical services community who are supplying this sort of training, assessment, and transition assistance?
