/programs/events/2008-05-08.htm

originally: http://www.oclc.org/programs/events/2008-05-08.htm

RLG Programs Metadata Tools Forum

May 8, 2008
Boston Public Library

As a follow-up to the successful 2006 RLG Forum on the economics of description, the RLG Programs Metadata Tools Forum showcased some tools for creating "more, better, faster, cheaper" metadata. We brought together developers and implementers, allowing tool developers to showcase their tools and implementers a chance to consider which tools might be usefully employed in their institutions. The forum also provided guidance and feedback to the research community and identify areas where further tool development is needed.

Respondents to the 2007 RLG Descriptive Metadata Practices survey (.pdf: 99K/13 pp.) cited more than 260 tools used for creating, editing, and storing metadata. This forum is focusing on tools that expedite metadata creation or editing that can be used by multiple institutions and do not require purchasing a new system—tools that rely on commonly available software most institutions would already have in-house or that are based on open source components.

Tool Presenters

  • Jim LeBlanc, Cornell University. Tool: "LS Tools" to extract, import, export, modify, reload MARC records in batch using a Web interface.
  • Michael Park, Brown University. Tool: A metadata tool for creating and editing MODS records using XForms technology which can be used with many different types of digital asset management systems.
  • Mark Phillips, University of North Texas. Tool: Metadata analysis tools to identify various types of problems.
  • Terry Reese, Oregon State University. Tool: MARCEdit, an application for database maintenance including a MARC validator and URL checker.
  • Scott Schwartz, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Tool: Archon, a Web-based tool for archivists and manuscript curators that publishes archival descriptive information and digital archival objects to a Web site.
  • Brad Westbrook, University of California, San Diego. Tool: Archivists' Toolkit, an open source archival data management system.
  • David Williamson, Library of Congress. Tool: WebCat Assistant, an application that converts an abstract page on the Web for a PDF paper into a MARC record, with an automatic notification service when Web sites change.
  • RLG Partners were invited to join us in Boston and share their ideas and experiences; meet new colleagues and help identify areas for further development.

    For a recap of this meeting, see the Metadata Tools Forum Discussion Summary (.pdf: 20KB/1 pp.)

    Merrilee Proffitt proffitm@oclc.org
    Karen Smith-Yoshimura smithyok@oclc.org
    Roy Tennant tennantr@oclc.org
    RLG Programs, OCLC Programs and Research

    Agenda

    Thursday, May 8, 2008
    Boston Public Library

    9:00 a.m.

    Welcome, context for the day

    Ruth Kowal, Deputy Director of the Boston Public Library
    Karen Smith-Yoshimura, RLG Programs

    9:30

    Lightning round:

    Each of nine tool developers briefly describes the tool he will be demonstrating, why it was developed, what it does.

    10:30

    Tool showcase 1:

    Terry Reese, Oregon State University – MarcEdit
    Brad Westbrook, University of California, San Diego – Archivists' Toolkit
    David Williamson, Library of Congress – Web Cataloging Assistant
    Wan Wong, National Library of Australia – Subject Suggester

    Noon

    Lunch break

    1:30 p.m.

    Tool showcase 2:

    Jim LeBlanc, Cornell University – LS Tools
    Michael Park, Brown University – MODS Editor
    Mark Phillips, University of North Texas – Metadata Analysis Tool
    Scott Schwartz, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Archon
    Raphael Villena, University of California, Los Angeles – Web Cataloging Assistant (UCLA Version)

    3:00

    Discussion:

    Questions posed to attendees will be used to spark a discussion of future directions.
    Discussion facilitators: Merrilee Proffitt and Roy Tennant, RLG Programs
    • What did you see that could be used in your own environment?
    • What local practices would have to change to take advantage of what you saw?
    • What needs had you hoped one of these tools would address, but didn't?

    4:30

    Adjourn

    Area Details:

    • Boston Public Library is located at 700 Boylston Street, right at Copley Square. Guests should enter the Dartmouth Street entrance (between Boylston and St. James).