OCLC Cataloging Efficiencies that Make a Difference: Metadata for Ebook Collections, at American Library Association Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA, June 25, 2012

1. Cataloging Efficiencies:
Managing Metadata for
E-book Collections
ALA Annual 2012
Anaheim, CA
Holly Tomren
@htomren

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Sometimes looks like this…

8. Tools of the Trade
 MarcEdit
 Excel
 Local scripts
 Load Profiles (III)
 Global Update (III)
 Listservs
 MARCEDIT-L
 BATCH-L

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Greater Discoverability
 Worldcat.org, WorldCat Local
 Anything powered by WorldCat API
(Mobile apps, Google “Find in a Library,”
Selection tools, LibX, etc.)

13. WCKB Wishlist
 Improved record matching
 More ebook collections in KB
 “Expert Community” functionality
… all of this is on the way

14. 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

15. Thank you!
Holly Tomren
Head, Metadata Services
Drexel University Libraries
holly.tomren@drexel.edu