Transforming Catalogers (and Others) into Digital Library Specialists : The Evolution of the University of Oregon’s Metadata and Digital Library Services Presentation for WiLS OCLC Peer Council Spring Meeting May 18, 2005 by Carol Hixson Head, Metadata and Digital Library Services University of Oregon Libraries

Catalog Department in 2000

MDLS Today

MDLS Today

Context in 2000 Great staff PCC involvement Already doing quick cataloging Clean bibliographic database Team-based organization in department ARL library – budget deficit New University Librarian in June 2000

Gradual Evolution Expanded PCC (BIBCO, full CONSER) Retrospective conversion Uncataloged collections survey Manuscript cataloging Map cataloging New services and approaches –Different levels of cataloging –EAD training –Non-library collections in library catalog Preservation Dept. merged in February 2001 Digital collections work started 2003 Name change in December 2003 Image Services Center merged in July 2004

New Skills and Focus Dublin Core, XML, TGM, etc. Project orientation Cross-functional initiatives or projects –Access to Collections –Data for Local Communities –Northwest Digital Archive –Digital Library Initiative –Metadata Implementation Group –Institutional Repository Group –Digital Content Coordinators

University of Oregon Libraries Digital Collections

Training New staff with new skill set Introduction to Dublin Core Introduction to scanning of images and text Introduction to content analysis for images Revised approach to descriptive metadata – not AACR2, not MARC, not an ILS Stay one step ahead – informed by our professional development activities

Tour of UO Digital Libraries

How Did We Get There? Gradual evolution Working to acquire new skills (making time) Taking on new work when asked Seizing opportunities Promoting a wider role for ourselves Following through Changing focus Discussion of new approaches and ideas

Challenges Learning and keeping up with everything we need to know is difficult Hard to find common ground in increasingly diverse department Too busy, lots of balls in the air Less contact with each other Loss of experienced staff Redefining our focus from production-oriented to collaborative is hard for some

Successes Lots of work getting done –114% increase in traditional cataloging –Retrocon more than halfway done –6 digital collections publicly available –Institutional repository up and running (ca 800 items) Cross training opportunities abound Wider role within library and on campus Greater collaboration Many people having fun

Contact Information Carol Hixson Head, Metadata and Digital Library Services University of Oregon Libraries (541) Presentation available at: