Cambridge University Library

From Data To Discovery

Pete Girling – Systems Librarian, libraries@cambridgeHuw Jones - Systems Librarian, libraries@cambridge

Ed Chamberlain - Systems Librarian, Cambridge University Library

Cambridge University Library

DATA ISSUES

• Problems with the current model

• Implications

• Solutions already in place for new records

• Solutions for existing/migrated records

Cambridge University Library

Problems with the current model

1) Standard of data often poor/inconsistent

• Quality of records in the databases ranges from excellent to very poor

Cambridge University Library

THE GOOD…

Cambridge University Library

THE BAD…

Cambridge University Library

… AND THE UGLY

Cambridge University Library

• “Short” records initially created by libraries• Intended upgrade to full records not materialised

in all libraries – lack of resources • No minimum bibliographic standard until 2006• MARC validation in Voyager extremely basic

Cambridge University Library

2) Duplication of data

Factors inherited from previous system:• Consortium model, not true Union Catalogue• Record for each title held by a library• Record sharing not possible in old system• Massive duplication

Cambridge University Library

3) Multi-database model confusing

“Dependent libraries”?

“F-M”?

“Catalogue”?

Cambridge University Library

• In previous system records all in one database

• On migration to Voyager concerns led to records being split into 6 databases

Cambridge University Library

4) Lack of authority control

• LC authority file – over 6 million records

• l@c team don’t have time/resources to load into 6 databases and maintain

Cambridge University Library

1) Data discovery issues– Records lacking certain fields/data become “invisible”

Cambridge University Library

Implications

Cambridge University Library

Cambridge University Library

2) Data management issues– Multiple records to maintain instead of one

Cambridge University Library

3) Deduplication issues– Short/incorrectly coded records lack matchpoints

Cambridge University Library

Solutions Already In Place

1) Bibliographic Standard• Unanimously voted into being by libraries• Specifies minimum fields new records must have• Intended to create minimum level of quality

But…

• Not all records created since January 2006 meet the Standard

Cambridge University Library

Solutions Already In Place

MARC Checking program• Checks coding/punctuation in records created in

last 7 days• Emails list of errors to relevant library• Provides validation Voyager doesn’t

But…• Corrections not always done

Cambridge University Library

2) Record Sharing• Possible in Voyager• Now possible for all libraries using Voyager• Only need one bib per title within a database• Recommended practice

But…• Not practiced as much as it could be

Solutions Already In Place

Cambridge University Library

3) “Communal cataloguing”?

• Bibs not owned by individual libraries but by one generic database-wide library

• Editing rights for all cataloguers

• Working well for “Serials” records

Solutions Already In Place

Cambridge University Library

Overall problem:

• Only apply to/work for new records

• What about existing/migrated records?