Envisioning Culture Shift: Building a Strategic Framework for Service
Oriented Cataloging
Jennifer O’Brien RoperHead, Cataloging and Metadata Services
University of Virginia Library
January 23, 2012
Traditional Duties
• Creation/addition of MARC records for multiple (but not all) locations
• Batch loading of records into ILS for all locations, including vendor sourced records
• Coordination of maintenance across locations• Sporadically involved with non-MARC
metadata
Trends since my 2008• Reduction in
– purchase of print materials– backlogs for all formats and languages
• Increase in – materials that arrive shelf ready– collaboration with Special Collections cataloging– need for centralized broad non-MARC expertise
• New services– next generation user interface presenting data from multiple
sources– institutional repository
What is a strategic framework?
Vision: description of a future state
Mission: action for realizing vision
Values: shared beliefs of an organization
Strategy: end goals and means for getting there
Mission: Our starting place
Departmental mission statement (2008):
Cataloging and Metadata Services is committed to providing high quality description and access for library resources.
Mission: Our starting place
Departmental mission statement (2010):
Cataloging and Metadata Services is committed to providing timely and accurate access to library managed content.
Values
Purposeproviding and maintaining metadata
facilitate discovery of library managed content
provide expertise in the organization of information contribute to the larger
cataloging community
Values
Final Productsmetadata in various formats
organized and distinct access to content
description, classification and controlled headings
Values
SuccessUsers find what they are looking for, and sometimes more
provide services in a timely manner is more often proactive than reactive we are happy and
engaged, proud of our work
Vision
stewardship for metadata, bibliographic and other
deep understanding of metadatamodels for storage and discoverability
A flexible and service-oriented approach
Strategy: End Goal
less statically centralized
more wholly involved in the mission of the Library
education experimentation
leaders
strategic partnerships
Strategy: Means for getting There
Organize within a structure that allows for flexibility in allocating resources to manage
pressure points.
Strategy: Means for getting There
Allow user needs to drive decisions about where, when and how to provide and enhance
metadata
Strategy: Means for getting There
Be visible outside of our physical space
Strategy: Means for getting There
Be vocal participants in conversations about Library services
Strategy: Means for getting There
Take a leadership role in the development of user interfaces
Strategy: Means for getting There
Foster a culture of learning, inquiry and risk-taking.
Next steps
• Revisit the team charter this spring
• Post these statements to our staff intranet
• Refer to them regularly, and update as needed
Questions: [email protected]