Some Notes from Anne on 2 presentations

 

 

FRBR and FRAD: the basics

By Marjorie Bloss from Dominican University

WLA Conference, Oct. 22, 2009

 

Summary: Bloss likes to give a lot of background information on a topic and spent a fair amount of time reviewing the history of cataloging traditions. Eventually she talked about FRBR as a conceptual model and stressed the importance of having a model that would accommodate—and even highlight—relationships among “stuff” (my lack of a better word) while also accommodating and highlighting a variety of formats.

 

FRBR (apparently) is loosely structured into 3 Groups. Group 1 consists of Work -> Expression -> Manifestation -> Item (WEMI).  Bloss led us through a few examples of WEMI. (BTW, be sure to sure this acronym as often as possible.) When she did them, they seemed rather clear. However, when we started practicing examples as a group, chaos broke out and no one could agree on the differences, particularly with Work, Expression, Manifestation. This was actually one of the best parts of the session. Everyone was really confused and bothered, and it was a great relief and surprise to find out I was not the only person in the world not quite getting the application of this conceptual model.

 

Eventually she simply ended discussion on WEMI examples and moved on to Group 2: “Entities.” Entities here refers to specific relationships of who “creates, produces or realizes the work, expression, manifestation or item.” The existence of Entities also leads us to authority control. I guess the important thing to remember here is that Entities means “those responsible.”

 

Group 3 covers the “Subjects of works” and “Subject relationships.”  Apparently Subjects can be: Concept, Object, Event, Place and also “any of Group 1 or Group 2 entities.”  I can’t really give more explanation of this.

 

FRAD is the new authority control model. This seems to be even sketchier than FRBR and I can’t say much about it except it’s under development.

 

Lastly, Bloss talked about FISO (Find -> Indentify -> Select -> Obtain) as the goal of the catalog. (Kind of seemed odd that this came at the end. But whatever.) Sometimes people also put an N on the end for Navigate, emphasizing how the catalog is suppose to support and promote navigation for its users.

 

Here’s the first WEMI example Bloss used:

 

WORK (very abstract, brings to mind some idea/thing): Have you read Candide? {Brings to mind this general impression you have of Candide}

EXPRESSION (still abstract but has some specific attributes): Have you read Voltaire’s Candide in French?

MANIFESTATION (getting more precise): Have you read a paperback version of Voltaire’s Candide in French?

ITEM (specific): Have you read this 1932 edition of Voltaire’s Candide in French that I have right here in my hand?

 

(Keep in mind, though, that any example beyond that resulted in utter confusion.)

 

 

 

RDA (Part 2 of presentation)

By Marjorie Bloss

 

 

Resource Description & Access (RDA)

 

In this presentation, Bloss gave extensive background regarding the development of RDA (understandable since she was the project manager but not extremely useful). 

 

Summary: RDA is the application of FRBR and FRAD.  RDA is the specific instructions for making records for all material types. (Both FRBR/FRAD and RDA attempt to address a multiplicity of formats while AACR2 and MARC primarily focused on “The Book.”)

 

 RDA seems to remain highly theoretical (e.g., RDA will be an extensible framework; RDA will be optimized for use as an online product). Supposedly RDA’s organization will relate each section and chapter to a FRBR task (remember FISO[N]?) and FRBR entity (Groups 1, 2, 3—as I understand it). A number of chapters in RDA will be empty because there’s no information to put there yet.

 

 RDA is about content not display (What? No more worrying about space, colon, space? I sense some chaos coming….)

 

Other points:

• There will be some new terminology
• It will be compatible with previous cataloging (we don’t need to convert old AACR2/MARC records)
• MARC 21 will need some modifications
• We will need to subscribe to RDA

 

 (Note the great number of specifics here)

 

 Timeline: Bloss reported that the big guys now think RDA won’t be implemented until late 2010/early 2011. This made me snicker. So much for 2009.

 

 The only really important point/fact to come out of this presentation was at the very end when someone from the audience asked if RDA had to be used with MARC.  That was when Bloss explained that, no, RDA is in XML and could be placed in the MARC format but didn’t need to be.

 

WLA Conference 2009: Notes from Katie

Wednesday, Oct. 21

10:45am-12:00pm

Open-Source Library Automation: All Grown-up

by Susan Buchanan, VP Library Partners, LibLime

**Due to a very slow Internet connection, this presentation included a limited demo of the Koha software: http://liblime.com/demos

WLA Description:

Susan Buchanan will give an overview of recently enhanced modules in Koha, including a new staff interface with improvements to OPAC, acquisitions, cataloging, serials and reporting.  For libraries who fear they can't take advantage of the benefits of open source, Susan will discuss the perceived barriers to implementation and show how libraries can now enjoy the advantages of open source--with or without an IT staff.

"LibLime is the global leader in open-source solutions for libraries, with a mission to make open source accessible to libraries. Rather than sell software licenses for static, hard-to-customize software products, LibLime educates libraries about the benefits of open source, enabling them to make choices about how best to provide their communities and staff with better technology services. LibLime then facilitates implementation of open-source in libraries by providing outstanding development, customization, support and training solutions--solutions tailored to each library's needs."(Source: http://liblime.com)

 

2:00-3:15pm

(The) Curious Nature of Order, or, How I Learned to Love Classification

by Hope A. Olson, Professor & Associate Dean, UW-Milwaukee

Non-library scenarios were presented to highlight classification's history and its impact on social organization.  This was a very philosophy-heavy discussion.

4:00-5:15pm

Public Library System Technical Services in the 21st Century

by Jane Richard, Member Services Librarian, WILS; Nichole Fromm, Cataloger, Madison Public Library

In early 2009, WILS staff surveyed Wisconsin public library systems about their present tech services workflows.  Results of this survey were presented, followed by a discussion of authority control management and centralized vs. de-centralized cataloging. 

PRESENTATION NOTES

 

Thursday, October 22

10:45am-12:00pm

Library Services for the Homeless Population in Wisconsin: Findings of a Study

Timothy Blomquist, UW-Milwaukee Graduate Student

*Homeless guy blog: http://thehomelessguy.blogspot.com/

This man is actually homeless and he uses a public library to access computers to publish his blog.

*Public library staff need to identify the "hidden homeless"

*Homeless patrons have the same needs as others: getting their basic information needs met (i.e. literacy, housing, employment, legal, computer skills) +updated info. on local social services/agencies providing help

*Libraries need to actively promote services/programs to homeless patrons

*Outreach programs that promote library resources, services, and programs can be organized in partnerships with local agencies and shelters (i.e. story times/developing local collections at homeless shelters)

*Transportation is important to bring homeless people to the library to access information that improves their quality of life

*Libraries can provide homeless kits provided by a county agency (i.e. folders/bookmarks with important deadlines/contacts for services to save time)

PRESENTATION SLIDES

 

2:00-3:15pm ; 4:00-5:15pm

FRBR and FRAD: The Foundations of a New Cataloging Code

+

RDA, Resource Description and Access: A Cataloging Code for the 21st Century

by Marjorie E. Bloss, Former RDA Project Manager & Lecturer, Dominican University

Joint Steering Committee for the Development of RDA Presentations: http://www.rda-jsc.org/rdapresentations.html

PRESENTATION SLIDES:

Handout: What is FRBR? by Barbara Tillett

RDA Scenarios

RDA Presentation