The editors of Library Resources & Technical Services are pleased to announce the publication of our Summer issue. In this issue you’ll find, in addition to an editorial and book reviews, the following full-length articles:
Linked Data Editors: Where Are We Now, Challenges and Considerations / Greta Heng, Patricia Lampron, Myung-Ja Han
With the growing recognition of the advantages offered by linked data within the library community, libraries have made a lot of effort to support cataloging and metadata professionals in transitioning to linked data, which has led to the development of linked data editors. Although the available editors facilitate linked data-based input templates and output formats, these tools nonetheless have room for improvement. In this Communication on Practice, the authors compare two notable linked data editors based on their supported features and functions. They then delve into considerations when designing user-friendly and ontology-agnostic linked data editors. Finally, the authors address the challenges encountered by libraries during the transition to linked data production and examine the broader implications of this transition for information organization professionals.
Finding Balance: Examining the Experiences of Supervisory Technical Services Librarians on the Tenure Track / Susan Marla Howell, Tammie Busch
Many technical services librarians find themselves managing a department and supervising staff while trying to work toward the requirements of tenure. This scenario is not unique to technical services, but historically technical services departments have been deprioritized over more public facing departments. This creates an added burden for these tenure-track technical services librarians. This topic has only been minimally explored in professional literature. This study examines the ways in which the responsibilities of tenure-track technical services librarians who supervise staff impact the amount of time they can devote to the requirements of tenure. This qualitative research study utilizes focus groups to hear the stories of both those who have been awarded tenure and those still going through the process. Participants report they are experiencing both challenges and successes in the process but need more support. The results from this study may be of interest to both librarians navigating the tenure process and colleagues and administrators who support them.
Bifurcation of Semi-Automated Subject Indexing Services / Jim Hahn
Semi-automated subject indexing methods use attributes from metadata descriptions as training data. A survey to shape inclusion of metadata attributes that align a machine learning model within a contextual linguistic domain generated the initial genre targets for experimentation. The second part of this study then tested the genre attributes from the survey. These bifurcations (or branching points) served as the basis for machine learning model development and evaluation. The machine learning models in semi-automated indexing systems are the drivers of the automated subject outputs. The initial results of this multipart experiment indicate that measures of the mean precision and recall (the F1 metric) improved for several—but not all—types of genres that were of interest to knowledge workers.
Hidden Collections and Rare Books Cataloging: A Review of the Literature / Mary A. Burns
During the past three decades, the holdings of rare books and special collections departments have come to be known as “distinctive collections.” Running parallel to this development has been the adoption of the term “hidden collections” to designate backlogs of unprocessed rare books and special collections materials, and an increased awareness of providing access to these materials. This paper examines the literature to explore the development of the trend for rare books and special collections to be called “distinctive collections” and for backlogs to be referred to as “hidden collections.” It also discusses factors that can contribute to the development of rare book backlogs including the need for trained staff and fuller levels of cataloging required to adequately describe the artifactual values of rare books in bibliographic records.
Known Item Search and Subject Search / Michael K. Buckland
The ability to create digital collections has become more accessible to libraries and cultural heritage institutions of all sizes over the last few years, making it a good time to release the second edition of Steven Jack Miller’s Metadata for Digital Collections. Throughout the book he introduces fundamental concepts that everyone developing a digital collection will need in order to be successful. Complex concepts—such as interoperability, linked data, and controlled vocabulary—are introduced early in the book in a manner that is appropriate for someone who is unfamiliar with the topics. Later chapters examine each of these topics in-depth providing a solid grounding and understanding of these concepts. In addition to writing plainly, Miller includes many examples that clearly illustrate the concepts being introduced.
Implementing a Transparent and Sustainable E-resource Assessment Plan in an Era of Continual Change / Taylor Ralph
Most academic libraries perform some level of collection assessment for e-resources. However, traditional e-resource assessment procedures pose multiple challenges related to their adaptability, transparency, and sustainability. At the Valley Library at Oregon State University, a multi-tiered assessment process is continually revised and refined to reflect the changing scholarly communication landscape and address the needs of both our library and our community. This paper discusses how this collection assessment system is currently set up, and outlines the challenges, benefits, and future considerations for other libraries interested in adapting their own e-resource assessment practices.
Cost, Advocacy, and a Mechanism for Transformation: The Proposed Power of Open Access Funds / Leila Belle Sterman
As paid open access becomes a mainstream academic practice, stakeholders must evaluate their role in the system. While open access advocates develop new ways to support the publication process and funding structure, commercial publishers continue to pivot to maintain their profit, relevance, and power in the publication system. This article provides the details of Montana State University’s Open Access Author Fund as an evaluation of the service and its impact on the local publishing ecosystem. As stewards of publicly funded knowledge, it is essential to critically analyze each new publishing route before adopting and supporting it. Especially when models claim to transform the system, librarians need to understand how an action changes the system, for whom, and at what cost.
Thanks to the authors, reviewers, and ALA Production for contributing to this issue. We hope you enjoy it!
Sincerely,
Rachel Scott, resco2@ilstu.edu
Michael Fernandez, fernm@bu.edu
