Technical Services Committee
Meeting Summary
July 15, 2004
Previous minutes available at: tscomm.php.
Present: John Bennett, Eleanor Block, Tschera Connell, Magda El-Sherbini, Marsha Hamilton, Lynda Hartel, Lisa Iacobellis, Sally Rogers (chair), Laura Tull
Meeting Summary
July 15, 2004
Previous minutes available at: tscomm.php.
Present: John Bennett, Eleanor Block, Tschera Connell, Magda El-Sherbini, Marsha Hamilton, Lynda Hartel, Lisa Iacobellis, Sally Rogers (chair), Laura Tull
- The group welcomed new member Tauni Graham from OSU Newark.
- Update on the TS communications survey
Lisa Iacobellis distributed 3 handouts showing the printed and the online version of the current draft of the TS communications survey, and the spreadsheet she developed to collect responses. She had asked some individuals in Main Library to test the survey and shared the comments she received. It took those who did the test 10 to 25 minutes to complete the survey and Lisa estimated most people would take about 15 min. There were comments about the wording of several questions and TSC agreed on the changes to be made. Lisa suggested that those present complete the online survey as a further test and share any comments with the work group. The survey can be finalized when Mary Rider and Noelle return from vacation. However, due to many people being away during the summer, Sally will not plan to send it out until the 2nd week of October. At TSC’s suggestion, the week before sending the survey, she will send a preliminary message to let people know it is coming and to encourage all personnel to respond.
- Communications to Technical Services from other areas
We have been working on the survey to assess effectiveness of communications from TS to other areas; however, we should also consider what avenues are being used for communications in the opposite direction -- to TS from other areas -- and whether these are working effectively (as a separate issue from the survey).
Eleanor Block relayed a comment from Laura Blomquist at her request that pertained to this agenda item. Laura and others at EHS have had a concern about information that they provide to TS as notes not being retained when materials are ordered and processed. Marsha Hamilton had not heard this concern expressed previously. Several other examples of the need for more communication were mentioned. It was suggested that someone from TS should attend Public Services and MLRRS meetings regularly even if no TS items are on the agenda. Although the Public Services members of TSC have been serving as liaisons between that group and TS, they might not recognize some issues as having a TS impact or realize that TS could provide assistance in some way. Sally will discuss with Jim Bracken and Pat McCandless the idea of someone from TS attending their meetings. Other suggestions included holding brown bag lunches or TS information sessions, inviting public services representatives to attend quarterly TS division meetings, and creating a TS request form similar to the form used by IT.
- INNOPAC "MilSilver" features
Laura Tull distributed a handout describing features expected to be in the next release of the INNOPAC software (which is called Millennium Silver) and mentioned those of particular interest to Technical Services. For example, it will include the Output Account Vouchers function and the Fiscal Close function. We hope to load the new release on OSCAR between summer and fall quarters.
III is no longer enhancing the character-based system; all character-based functionality is being moved to the Millennium system. Laura and Nancy Helmick are planning a marketing program for the Millennium modules once Main Library personnel have relocated to 650 Ackerman. Law and Health Sciences have been using the Millennium acquisition and serials modules for some time. OSUL has been using Millennium serials for some titles; Millennium Cataloging is being used for Hebrew cataloging and for some types of updates to the OSCAR database that can’t be done in the character-based system.
- Innovative Users Group enhancement requests
OSU recently submitted votes for INNOPAC enhancements to be sent to III by the Innovative Users Group. Laura Tull showed this list, which can be found at http://www.lib.ohio-state.edu/Staff/infotech/OSU_votes_2004.xls.
The “tickler” under acquisition is already in the ERM module, so we think III might do that one. Tschera Connell noted that inability to select particular portions of the payment field when doing booleans is a big problem. We would also like the ability to output information, such as notes, from serial checkin boxes. Under system functionality, we voted for the capability to schedule jobs such as create lists and rapid update. It is possible to schedule when to run statistical reports in Millennium Statistics, so we are hoping that III will extend the capability to other functions.
Linda Hartel asked about the status of our previous request to make summary view the default. Laura thought that it did not win in the last enhancements vote. Trisha also had told III last year that it was a big problem for us when using Millennium Serials for checkin to have the wrong record display as the default.
- Impact of 13-digit ISBNs
OCLC records will begin to contain 13-digit ISBNs late in 2004 or beginning 2005. To date, ISBNs have been 10-digits. Tschera Connell distributed a handout on the Library of Congress’s plan to accommodate 13-digit ISBNs.
Publishers are supposed to provide the 10- and 13-digit ISBN as a pair. The USMARC format is changing to make field 020 repeatable and to activate the 024 field. How will III handle this? Laura Tull said their web site indicates they haven't decided yet. Tschera noted that potential changes to the ISSN also are being discussed and that this is a major issue. She will send out some general information on e-mail.
ISBN and ISSN are international in scope and so are complicated to control. With electronic publications, a standard number should be assigned but it depends on whether the publisher asks for one.
- Envisioning future of information access (to be an ongoing topic featuring different aspects)
Tschera Connell presented an overview of FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records) (pronounced furbur) and its potential impact on library catalogs. FRBR is an entity relationship model (terminology from computer science) that offers a different way of looking at the universe of resources. The model is intended to help us think differently – it is not right or wrong.
Tschera distributed a handout showing the 3 components of the FRBR model: entities, attributes (which describe entities), and relationships. It also describes the 3 groups of entities. For example, Group 1 contains:- Work (intellectual idea) (example: Bach’s The art of the fugue)
- Expression (e.g., score, arrangement)
- Manifestation (physical embodiment such as sound recording, miniature score)
- Item (one particular holding)
What can FRBR do for us? It has the potential to improve our catalog by presenting groups of related items. It centers around what users want to do - find information, select it, and obtain it. The Music community is excited about FRBR It allows a lot of flexibility and creates displays on the fly using XML. Jim Murphy asked how multiple authors or subjects are handled. The information is modular with relationships spelled out by the FRBR model so that the user does not have to make the associations.
III says in Jan. 2005 INNOPAC users will be able to use FRBR. VTLS already has implemented it. FRBR represents a revolutionary change that is coming. AACR2 is being rewritten based on FRBR with AACR3 due out in 2007. Granularity is being taken out of the code.
- Next TSC meeting: Sept. 9, 10:30-noon; Main Library 124 [minutes to be taken by John Bennett, as next in alphabetical rotation]
