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Transcript of The Subject Librarian's Role in Building Digital Collections: Where Information Management and...
The Subject Librarian's Role
in Building Digital Collections:
Where Information Management and
Subject Expertise Meet
Ruth VondracekOregon State UniversityOnline NW 2003February 28, 2003
Outline Context & Definitions The Cast of Characters Digital Collection Life Cycle Subject Librarian Role
Context
Focus on academic environment Non-commercial digital libraries Using examples from OSU
Braceros in Oregon Linus Pauling collections
Subject Librarian = Library Subject Specialist
Knowledgeable about a specific discipline from a library perspective
Generally, not always, in a public service role Wears many hats: reference, instruction,
collection development, cataloging Acts as liaison to subject experts, such as:
faculty, researchers, other professionals AKA: Collection Development Librarian, Subject
Bibliographer, Reference Librarian, Information Consultant, Subject Cataloger, Archivist
Information Management
“This interdisciplinary field draws on and combines skills and resources from librarianship and information science, information technology, records management, archives and general management. Its focus is information as a resource, independently of the physical form in which it occurs.”
Leonard Will http://www.willpowerinfo.co.uk/
Digital Libraries"An informal definition of a digital library is a
managed collection of information, with associated services, where the information is stored in digital formats and accessible over a network. A crucial part of this definition is that the information is managed. A stream of data sent to earth from a satellite is not a library. The same data, when organized systematically, becomes a digital library collection."
William Y. Arms. Digital Libraries and Electronic Publishing. MIT Press. 2000
Cast of Characters Project Managers Catalogers or metadata specialists Information Architects Software / Hardware experts Digitization staff Subject Experts Content Users
CreateCreate
SelectSelect
Digitize&
Store
Digitize&
Store
Organize &
Describe
Organize &
Describe
CaptureCapture
PromotePromote
Build ContextBuild
Context
Design InterfaceDesign
Interface
UseUse
Digital Collection Life Cycle
Collection GoalsSupport
&
Maintenance
Licensin
g
IdentifyIdentify
Activities Build relationships with subject experts
Stay aware of current or emerging research areas
Seek out information stores or knowledge bases
Skills & Expertise Requires liaison and consulting skills
Collaboration Subject experts: faculty, researchers, other
professionals
Identify (Scouting)
Select Activities
Select content that meets library and organizational goals
Determine ‘fit’ with other library collections
Unique, complementary, or duplicate Determine which information is useful to the
selected audience Determine scope Identify formats; determine requirements to
digitize
Select Activities
Determine how it will be used and how would use it Verify accuracy & authority Secure licensing and copyright
Skills Content development and analysis
Negotiation and licensing skills
Collaboration Subject experts, Information technologists,
Acquisition staff
CreateCreate
SelectSelect
Digitize&
Store
Digitize&
Store
Organize &
Describe
Organize &
Describe
CaptureCapture
PromotePromote
Build ContextBuild
Context
Design InterfaceDesign
Interface
UseUse
Digital Collection Life Cycle
Collection GoalsSupport
&
Maintenance
Licensin
g
IdentifyIdentify
Organize & Describe Activities
Identify appropriate existing controlled vocabularies and existing thesauri or
Work with subject experts and catalogers/metadata specialists to create vocabularies and thesaurus
Collaborate on applying metadata and cataloging standards
Influencing information architecture to ensure effective retrieval
Assist with description of materials
Organize & Describe Skills
Understanding language of the discipline
Understanding of organization of information within a particular discipline
Understanding impact of information architecture on search and retrieval
Collaboration Catalogers/Metadata experts; Subject specialists,
Information technologists and architects
CreateCreate
SelectSelect
Digitize&
Store
Digitize&
Store
Organize &
Describe
Organize &
Describe
CaptureCapture
PromotePromote
Build ContextBuild
Context
Design InterfaceDesign
Interface
UseUse
Digital Collection Life Cycle
Collection GoalsSupport
&
Maintenance
Licensin
g
IdentifyIdentify
Build Context Activities
Create content to support collection
Solicit content from subject experts
Point to other existing resources Webliographies or Bibliographies
Skills Knowledge of related resources
Collaboration Subject experts
Build Context Activities
Create content to support collection
Solicit content from subject experts
Point to other existing resources Webliographies or Bibliographies
Skills Knowledge of related resources
Collaboration Subject experts
Design Interface Activities
Influence interface design to support needs of end users
Conduct usability testing with end users
Skills Understanding of how users search for and use
information
Understanding of web design
Collaboration Web specialists, subject experts, users
Design Interface Activities
Influence interface design to support needs of end users
Conduct usability testing with end users
Skills Understanding of how users search for and use
information
Understanding of web and information design
Collaboration Web specialists, subject experts, users
CreateCreate
SelectSelect
Digitize&
Store
Digitize&
Store
Organize &
Describe
Organize &
Describe
CaptureCapture
PromotePromote
Build ContextBuild
Context
Design InterfaceDesign
Interface
UseUse
Digital Collection Life Cycle
Collection GoalsSupport
&
Maintenance
Licensin
g
IdentifyIdentify
Promote & Disseminate Activities
Promote collection on library web site, local and organization media, in relevant journals and web sites
Incorporate into appropriate instruction sessions and research guides
Ensure cross-linking with other related collections and sites
Skills Promotion and marketing skills
Collaboration Subject experts, users, other libraries and organizations
Use Activities
Facilitate use of collection by end users
Serve as use advocate Anticipate issues concerning collection use
Document needed changes and updates
Refer individuals to appropriate contacts
Skills Reference and research skills
Collaboration Subject experts, users, other libraries and organizations,
technology support
Skills & Expertise Liaison and consulting skills Knowing what information is useful in
which context and by whom Understanding of how information is
organized in a general sense and within certain disciplines
Understanding of how people search for, retrieve and use information
Building context and research guides
What does it take to get there? Appropriate training Opportunities for participation Development of negotiation and
communication skills Interaction with appropriate team
members