“ eXtensible ” Cataloging: Opportunities presented by the eXtensible Catalog (XC) Project

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“eXtensible” Cataloging:

Opportunities presented by the eXtensible Catalog (XC) Project

Jennifer Bowen

jbowen@library.rochester.edu ALA Annual Conference, Anaheim, 2008

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Some of my recent past lives…

• Specialist cataloger (Music)• Cataloging manager• RDA developer

and now….Software development project leader!

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What is the eXtensible Catalog?

• www.eXtensibleCatalog.info • Set of open-source tools • Facilitate resource discovery and

metadata management• Funding from Andrew W. Mellon

Foundation and from XC partner institutions

• Software release: July 2009

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eXtensible Catalog features• Empower libraries to

customize/develop discovery solutions

• Integrate library content into various web environments

• Enable sharing of metadata and software

• Expand the role of libraries

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XC (eXtensible Catalog) Team

• Project team–13 FTE, including6 developers

• Metadata consultants– Diane Hillmann, Jon Phipps

• XC Partners

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XC will provide…• Compatibility with ILS, etc. via OAI-

PMH• Out-of the-box user-interface

functionality• Toolsets for customization, web

application development, metadata enrichment

• Infrastructure for moving beyond MARC

• The “XC Network” of services

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The XC Network

Metadata Hub

ILS

Repository

Repository

XC Metadata Services

Library

Website

Custom

App.Learni

ng Syste

m

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Enabling customization and development

• Empowers libraries• “Lowers the bar” for local

development• XC works alongside network-level

applications• Focuses attention upon needs of

local users• Encourages user research

Custom

App.

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Enabling customization and development

• New roles for catalogers/cataloging– Design local applications– Engage in user research

• Challenges: – Keep an open mind– Present options, not objections– Think broadly

Custom

App.

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Integrating library content into web environments

• Bring metadata to the users• New “measures of success” for

metadata standards• Compatibility with web standards

now essential• Existing metadata may not even be

usable

Learning

System

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Integrating library content into web environments

• Challenges for catalogers– Perceived loss of control– Rethink standards development

• What’s needed– Make legacy metadata as usable as

possible

Learning

System

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The XC Network

Metadata Hub

ILS

Repository

Repository

XC Metadata Services

Library

Website

Custom

App.Learni

ng Syste

m

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XC Metadata Services• Normalization: transform coded

metadata so that it can be used/displayed

• Schema transformation: MARC, DC to XC

• FRBRization• Authority control matching

Services

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Sharing metadata

• Share “post-MARC” metadata–MARCXML, with enrichments–XC Schema

• Share user-generated metadata

Services

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Sharing software

• Share metadata enrichment services–Libraries can use an existing XC service

–Libraries can develop and share additional services

Services

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Expanding the role of libraries

• Uncover and address evolving user needs

• Facilitate the goals of the researcher–Writing, Teaching

• Participation in learning management system environments

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Exploring the role of the catalog

• Bring library metadata to users • Custom applications to meet

local needs • Seamless navigation between

applications

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Exploring new roles

for catalogers• Design and test metadata

services• Manage flow of metadata • System/application design• User research

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More information on the eXtensible Catalog:

www.extensiblecatalog.info

Jennifer Bowenjbowen@library.rochester.edu