Monday Morning Blog

 This information was sent to me via email about the international Ask A Conservator Day. Conservators around the world are participating in #AskAConservator Day on November 18. SCAA is supporting the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators (CAPC) to join in this international conversation, in order to reflect the breadth and depth of the work of conservators, archivists and museum professionals in Canada. Do you have any questions you'd like to #AskAConservator? If so, we invite you to email them to  liaison@capc-acrp.ca   by November 16. Your question will be answered by a qualified conservator and posted in a series of short news articles on the CAPC website on November 18. Ask us anything! Last year, CAPC answered questions on  how to preserve tintypes ,  how to unroll curled photos ,  what to do about yellowed textiles ,  recommendations on museum software ,  what issues to be aware of when hiring a clock repairer , and conservators spoke about  the most challenging

 If you happen to have time on the 19th, this event may be of interest: Native poets Layli Long Soldier, Mark Turcotte & Tanaya Winder read from an anthology of Native Nations poetry edited by Joy Harjo. You can register for free at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/layli-long-soldier-mark-turcotte-tanaya-winder-tickets-126883731657?aff=November2020Newsletter

 From the American Writer's Museum YouTube Page: American Writers Museum presents a discussion with writer David Treuer about his 2019 National Book Award finalist "The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee," which gives a sweeping history — and counter-narrative — of Native American life from the Wounded Knee massacre to the present. This conversation originally took place February 14, 2020 and was recorded live at the American Writers Museum.

 Thank you to everyone for your feedback and comments about the last post. Let me begin this post by acknowledging that it is extremely difficult to be an upstander in a toxic work environment.  The upstander is the one who witnesses bullying, discrimination, or harassment, and says or does something to stop it.  We all want to be upstanders but yet we often are not. At least, I know that I often fail in this regard and I feel that there are times when I have been failed by others who could have come to my defense.  We witness something happen and we put our heads down and feel bad about what is happening but stay quiet.  We might approach the victim after the fact to offer support.  We may even give some money to a cause that fights for the rights of victims.  But, when the chips are down and we are in a position to intervene, we very often do not do so.  Why do we do it?  There are likely lots of reasons.  No doubt that there are many papers and books written about why people physica

 I don't know about you but from time to time I am introduced to someone who asks me where I work or what I do for a living.  When I say that I am a librarian or that I work in a library, I am presented with a response something along the lines, "that must be a dream job, no stress at all."  Hmmm...  I wish.  Yet, so many people seem to hold this point of view.  Perhaps the only knowledge they have of libraries and library work is their exposure to libraries as an infrequent user.  In their minds, the library is a quiet and peaceful place full of all sorts of interesting books, movies, and music.  Everyone in the library is happy and there is nothing to fight about or to cause stress.  Oh, if only that were true.  The reality is that there have been days in my working life where I could barely sleep at night, had to force myself to get out of bed in the morning, feared going to work, and walked around all day with a knot in my stomach.  And, why was that?  It was generall

 I suspect that many of you already follow RDA developments.  However, for those who haven't had a chance to catch up with their email or RSS feed, the RDA ToolKit posted this reminder today: December 15th Transition Preparation We have just about six weeks until the beta  RDA  Toolkit becomes our standard platform on December 15, 2020 around 8 PM CST. The original version of  RDA  Toolkit will still be accessible to all subscribers for the foreseeable future, and there will be additional free and premium learning opportunities to help all subscribers improve their skills with the beta  RDA  Toolkit well into the new year. In the meanwhile, please look out for a November e-mail blast from us explaining what's going to happen, what's  not  going to happen, what you should do to prepare, and key preparation resources. If you want to follow developments for yourself or subscribe to email updates about the ToolKit, have a look at their website   https://www.rdatoolkit.org/

 I haven't posted for a bit.  I got a bit lost in the weeds having discussions with various tech services librarians I've worked with over the years.  Initially, I contacted them to ask what they do when the cover art from a DVD case is so damaged that it needs to be replaced.  In talking about this practical issue, many other discussions and issues arose.  These will be topics for exploration in future blog posts.  However, for today, I'll go back to the original question which was what libraries do when they need to replace damaged cover art. First of all, each librarian or library tech I spoke with described a different approach for dealing with the problem.  So, this being said, if any readers deal with the problem in a different way, it might be useful for other readers if you share your approach in the comments section for the blog. Second, most libraries do try to replace the cover art somehow but not all make the attempt to do so.  Some just use Word to create a new

 The other day a librarian friend sent me a link to Nancy Doyles Forbes article entitled ÈProfessor Ahmad's Six-Month Wall:  Rehumanizing the Virtual WorkplaceÈ.   As might be expected,  the article focuses on how we cope with life as we move into a winter characterized by ongoing COVID infections and social distancing.   I copied a few lines that struck me as interesting: The desire to "get away" or "make it stop" is intense. We've already re-learned how to do groceries, host meetings, and even teach classes. And we have found new ways to be happy and have fun. But as the days get shorter and colder, we need to be ready to innovate again.  But just don't expect to be sparklingly happy or wildly creative in the middle of your wall. Right now, if you can meet your obligations and be kind to your loved ones, you get an A+. I won't copy anything else in case you are interested in reading the article for yourself.  By the way, I recommend at least scanni

 There was a time when the topics of open science and open access (OA) journals were the primary interest of specialized academic libraries.  However, because these paired movements have access to information and the business model for journal subscriptions at their heart, they are of interest to most library workers. For those of you who aren't familiar with open science and OA, I wrote a column a few years back that addresses these topics ( https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/LHTN-09-2016-0040/full/html ).  You might have to search for the article title in your discovery service in order to get access to it or request it on ILL.  Earlier this year I published a related column on scholarly communications that might also be of interest ( https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/LHTN-01-2020-0007/full/html ).  If you work in an academic or research library, you likely know quite a bit about the topic already.  However, those working in public libraries and

 My very first library job was working in what was called at the time the Fine and Performing Arts Department of an urban public library.  It was a sort of dream job for me because I love music, crafts, film, etc.  I eventually worked my way into doing reference work despite the fact that I lack an art or music degree.  Those were the days before the WWW and all of the free and subscription electronic resources we have today.  Besides the major music reference sources such as Groves, I doubt that any of what I used to use is still available. From time to time I still have need of music reference resources.  Sometimes it is in the context of cataloging a music-related resource and sometimes it's in the context of answering a music-related question.  Thank goodness that my colleagues who have music degrees have made some helpful LibGuides.  Nowadays, I Google for music LibGuides and often find the answers I need. However, there are many interesting music databases that I find often a

 The issue of developing and implementing new cataloguing and metadata standards and models is one that has been with us for the past few decades.  While cataloguers have been slowly changing their practices - especially since the introduction of RDA about 8 years ago, many other library workers aren't aware that there is a plan in the works for a metadata revolution.  Or, maybe they know about it but perhaps they don't care.  I remember a librarian tell me a few years ago that she just couldn't get excited let alone be interested in my talk about RDA.  She felt that there has been too much talk and too little action for her tastes. The reality is that the discipline of cataloguing and metadata is talking about revolutionary change. Making that change takes a lot of thinking, talking, planning, and experimentation.  I've shown non-cataloging librarians some of the experimental tools such as OCLCs Classify ( http://classify.oclc.org/classify2/  ), Worldcat Identities ( h

 Here are another 4 columns I wrote: 1) Are your devices eating up all of your time? Frederick, D.E.  (2017), "Where does the time go? A perceived shortage of time in the digital age – the Data Deluge Column",  Library Hi Tech News , Vol. 34 No. 2, pp. 1-7.  https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-01-2017-0005 I was feeling pretty melancholy when I wrote this paper.  However, since I wrote it, I've noticed that it is an increasingly common topic in both academic papers and the popular media.  We spend a lot of time engaging with electronic devices and the information they present to us.  This is having an impact on various aspects of our lives. 2) AI for librarians Frederick, D.E.  (2020), "Librarians in the era of artificial intelligence and the data deluge",  Library Hi Tech News , Vol. 37 No. 7, pp. 1-7.  https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-03-2020-0029 So, this paper hasn't created any discussion!  Perhaps it is too new.  However, AI is becoming increasingly present in ou

 I've been writing this blog for about 8 years now and over time the target audience I've written for has changed.  This spring I was teaching classes for summer students, post-docs, and new scientists on how to conduct literature searches using the databases and citation management software available at the research centre where I worked.  I'm not sure if anyone from my classes still looks at these posts.  However, maybe some do and maybe some of my other readers are interested in this topic because they may either do their own research or help others to do scientific literature searching and writing papers. So, about a week ago I tried out a new free course on Coursera called How to write and publish a scientific paper .  The instructors describe the course as being one that is created by PhD students for PhD students.  However, the language, pace of instruction, and hands-on exercises make the course suitable for any students and librarians who might be interested in lea

The Cataloguing Calculator Back in 2012 I wrote a post about the cataloging calculator which included some exercises for those who want to learn how to use it. That post still gets stats and I get a couple of emails each year asking about the tool. So, I figure that the tool and the post might be of interest to my new readers. Have a look at the original post:   http://donnaefrederick.blogspot.com/2012/06/metadata-update-8-cataloguing.html Metadata Maker Another tool from a few years back is The Metadata Maker which was created by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library.  This is a particularly useful tool to use when you need to get cataloguing help from subject or language experts who may have little or no cataloguing experience.  I've used the tool with my research assistant who created records using it.  I then loaded all of her records into MARCEdit where I corrected and enriched her records.    This is the link below will take you to the form for the metadat

Information about this free webinar just came through one of my social media feeds.  It might be of interest to some of the followers of this blog.   This has been cut and paste from the original announcement:  Please be invited to join the free Webex webinar "The Science behind the Preservation and Conservation of Archival Records" of the University of Perpetual Help System Laguna Master of Library and Information Science, Graduate School in partnership with EBSCO Information Services will hold its First FREE Webinar. DATE: November 28, 2020, Saturday TIME: 10:00 am to 12:00 nn (PHT) CHANNEL: Cisco Webex Our resource speaker is Hon. Lourdes T. David, Member, Professional Regulatory Board for Librarians The objectives of the webinar include: 1. To acquire new knowledge in the preservation of Archival Records. 2. To know the science behind the conservation of Archival Records. " Registration link is here >>  bit.ly/UPHSL-Webinar- Registration

 Hopefully, you had a chance to look at one or more of the columns I wrote about the other day.   In today's post, I have another 4 papers to share with you. 1) My BIBFRAME column Frederick, D.E.  (2016), "Metadata specialists in transition: from MARC cataloging to linked data and BIBFRAME (data deluge column)",  Library Hi Tech News , Vol. 33 No. 4, pp. 1-5.  https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-03-2016-0015 2 Let's just say that 4 years after I wrote this column, BIBFRAME remains a somewhat difficult topic to discuss - especially with those working outside of the cataloguing and metadata discipline.  However, I think that the points I made in this column remain valid today and that the key is that cataloguing and metadata will remain in transition for a very long time.  This transition includes both theoretical and practical aspects. 2) 4IR and technological haves and have-nots Frederick, D.E.  (2019), "The Fourth industrial revolution and the digital divide",  Li

 For the past 10 years or so, I have been studying the impact of technological change on libraries.  While my focus has been on disruptions in technical services, I follow all aspects of change in libraries.  Electronic resources in libraries are an obvious example of disruptive technological change and the shift to linked-data appears to be an emerging disruption.  However, COVID seems to have brought on a whole new slate of disruptions for libraries ranging from how we think about and plan our physical spaces and collections and the ways in which we can offer new remote services.  These disruptions seem to touch practically every aspect of library work. When I want to learn more about current issues in libraries that represent challenges, if not outright disruptions, I often turn to OCLC's WebJunction.  It seems to me that in the past I had to be working at a library that was a member of OCLC to view their webinars for free. However, whether or not that was once the case, their r

 For the past 4 years I have been a columnist for Library Hi-Tech News .  I feel truly honoured to have the opportunity to do this writing and engage in discussion with the readers of my column.  While these papers are not the traditional type of peer-reviewed papers that academic librarians typically publish, I have found the process of researching and writing the column and engaging in discussion and debate with my readers to be one of the most professionally rewarding experiences I've ever had.  I thought that I'd scatter a few blog posts here and there to introduce some of the columns I've written.  This is not to toot my own horn but to, hopefully, widen the audience for this writing and also increase awareness and discussion of these topics in the library field. For a very long time I have been very interested in the topic of disruptive change in libraries and about 10 years ago I set out to make a concerted effort to study the changes and document what I learned alon

 Today's post features some free cataloguing training that is offered by the Library of Congress via what is called the Catalogers Learning Workshop. This is the website:   https://www.loc.gov/catworkshop/ This is an important website for all cataloguers to bookmark.  I use it as a gateway for finding free training resources related to RDA, the 3R Project and BIBFRAME / linked data in particular.  However, it is also good for all sorts of cataloguing topics related to LC including more traditional topics such as subject headings and classification. I have a few comments to make about LC cataloging training. LC is considered the go-to authority for cataloguing standards and training.   In my opinion, the best and most thorough training comes through programs like BIBCO and NACO.  A few years ago I was lucky to get NACO training from Paul Frank at LC when the library I worked for at the time joined a NACO funnel.  It was excellent training.   However, not every library or cataloguer

 The way that I conceptualize the topic of classification in libraries is that a physical resource needs to sit somewhere on a shelf or in some other type of container and the "place where it sits" needs to be assigned some sort of code that makes the item discoverable and retrievable.  The items can be discoverable either by searching in the library's discovery service or catalogue or by browsing around the shelves.  The items are retrievable when the patron is able to find a record for the item in the catalogue, makes note of the classification code assigned to it and then uses that code to retrieve items from the shelves.  I once worked in a library that used accession numbers to organize their films and art catalogues on the shelf.  With accession numbers, the first item added to the collection has the lowest number and the most recent one has the highest.  The numbers have little to no meaning in themselves except to indicate whether the item was added to the collect