Koha and Google

Exciting news from LibLime, the Koha support company.

I’m excited to announce that LibLime has been selected as a mentoring organization for the Google Summer of Code program. Google Summer of Code offers student developers stipends to write code for various open source projects.

Some of the area suggested are:

• Creation of CDS/ISIS Migration to Koha Toolkit
• Improve Kartouche for Koha Translation Manager
• Improve Koha Unicode Support
• Improve Koha Worldmap
• Improve Koha Documentation/Online Help
• Improve Koha Cataloging Interface
• Improve Koha Report Wizard
• Tool to build 'map' of shelves
• OpenShareTags

Koha

Serials Cataloging Paper

Catalog/Cataloging Changes and Web 2.0 Functionality: New Directions for Serials by Rebecca Kemp will be published in The Serials Librarian later this year.

This article presents an overview of some of the important recent developments in cataloging theory and practice and online catalog design. Changes in cataloging theory and practice include the incorporation of the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records principles into catalogs, the new Resource Description and Access cataloging manual, and the new CONSER Standard Record. Web 2.0 functionalities and advances in search technology and results displays are influencing online catalog design. The paper ends with hypothetical scenarios in which a catalog, enhanced by the developments described, fulfills the tasks of finding serials articles and titles.

Cataloging

Photo Metadata

MS Windows users may be interested in this download that allows editing photographic metadata within Windows Explorer, Microsoft Photo Info.

Microsoft Photo Info allows photographers to add, change and delete common "metadata" properties for digital photographs from inside Windows Explorer.

When installed, a new "Photo Info" item appears on the context menu for files selected in Windows Explorer. To use, simply select one or more image files, right-click and choose "Photo Info" to open the Photo Info properties editor. You can edit metadata for files individually, or all together as a batch. Photo Info reads and writes metadata in IPTC and XMP formats (depending on file type). It also provides enhanced "hover tips" and additional sort properties for digital photographs in Windows Explorer.

Seen on the Travelin' Librarian.

Metadata

My Next Talk

SLA Texas Chapter Spring Meeting
Friday, March 23, 2007
University of Houston's Rockwell Pavilion

This year's meeting is a spotlight on Innovation. We have a diverse topic line-up to stimulate innovative strategies that can be implemented in your library/research center.

Speakers

Joanie Oliver, Executive Partner and founder of Iconitel, Inc. - this session is sure to supply even the most experienced content buyer with effective strategies for purchasing, managing and implementing research information contracts. Since starting her career working for Dialog a Thomson company in 1992, she has gained a unique perspective and knowledge of managing and marketing information.

Carol Simpson, associate professor at the School of Library and Information Sciences at the University of North Texas, will speak on copyright in the special/corporate library environment. She will give an overview of copyright law, recent court cases and the importance of mitigating copyright liability.

Keith DeWeese, taxonomy consultant for Dow Jones, will give an overview of taxonomy development and will also speak on innovative approaches to incorporating taxonomies and other controlled vocabularies into various information management scenarios.

Panel Discussion featuring our own Chapter Members:

• Greg Lambert, King & Spalding, LLP - This law firm has developed a method for compiling articles and alerts published by their competitors. By taking that information, adding internal taxonomies, and pinpointing the distribution to those that benefit most, they have a better understanding of what their competitors are doing, and what can be done to advance the firm's position in the market
• David Bigwood, Lunar & Planetary Institute - Based on the desire to provide on-going marketing to users, the Institute's library has generated a Homegrown Outreach plan that requires little support. Using simple free or low-cost tools, a weekly news page, RSS feed and podcast has been created.
• Sandy Miller, Southern Methodist University - SMU's Business Information Center has incorporated educational technology initiatives into the library. A primary benefit is that students may now start and complete their entire academic assignments within the library, from the first reference question to a polished presentation or podcast as the finished product.
• Marcia Schemper-Carlock, Verizon - Due to the increase in market research content and the decline of available staff time for processing content, this research team has implemented Northern Light's integrated search portal. The implementation provides end-users faster access to new content and greatly reduces the manual cataloging process.

Registration

Online Registration

Price includes continental breakfast, lunch, and closing reception
SLA Members $40
Non-Members $60
SLA Members (between jobs) $15
Students or Retirees $15

Agenda

8:00 - 8:45 Registration and Breakfast
8:45 - 9:00 Welcome by Marcia Schemper-Carlock, Texas Chapter President
9:00 - 10:30 Panel Discussion
Greg Lambert, King & Spalding, LLP
David Bigwood, Lunar & Planetary Institute
Sandy Miller, Southern Methodist University
Marcia Schemper-Carlock, Verizon
10:30 - 10:50 Break and Networking
10:50 - 11:50 Dr. Carol Simpson - Copyright
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch - Keith DeWeese - Taxonomy Development (sponsored by Factiva
1:00 - 2:20 Joanie Olivier - Innovative Negotiation Strategies for Purchasing Information Resource Contracts (sponsored by EBSCO)
2:20 - 2:40 Break and Networking
2:40 - 4:00 Joanie Olivier - Innovative Marketing Strategies
4:00 - 4:45 Wrap Up, Awards, Chapter Business
5:00 - 6:30 Wine & Cheese Reception

Directions

The meeting will be at the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion, located on the second floor (Room 214A) of the M.D. Anderson Library, which is the main library at the University of Houston (central campus). Map

Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion
M.D. Anderson Library, 2nd Level
114 University Libraries
Houston, TX 77204-2000

SLA

Lunar and Planetary Science Conference

Posts will be light and less regular next week. This is our annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Also, my podcast, news page and recent additions to the collection page at the LPI will not be updated next week.

If you will be at the conference stop by the library or the Publishers' Exhibit and say Hi.

LPSC

MARC RTP RIP

It seems that the MARC Record Translation Program is no longer available. It's a shame when tools disappear.

MARC

WorldCat Citations

Item records in WorldCat.org, WorldCat's open-Web interface, now include a Cite this Item link that provides bibliographic citations in five common styles: APA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA and Turabian.

That was a nice feature on the RedLightGreen site. Glad to see it here.

WorldCat

Podcasting Tips

I do a weekly podcast for the Lunar and Planetary Institute (MPOW). Short, simple and easy. I do read a bit about podcasting looking for useful tips, here is an audio file that covers a new aspect, Using Format to Engage the Listener by Stacy Bond.

Although podcasters may savor the raw style of extemporaneous talk, Bond shares many pro-level tips to help ensure content is presented in a listenable way. By envisioning a timeline or arc for the show, podcasters can build an identity and create hooks to engage and stimulate their audience. Breaks should be designed to allow people a chance to catch up and stay clear on who's speaking and what's happening. Rhythms, repetition and certain milestones can reinforce the tone and trajectory of a show in order to keep listeners on track and well entertained within a familiar framework for audio storytelling.

Podcasting

Library Peeps

Now that Peeps are appearing in the stores, it is time to revisit the study of Peeps using the library.

Flamenco Search Interface Project

UC Berkeley has released the Flamenco Search Interface as open-source.

The Flamenco search interface framework has the primary design goal of allowing users to move through large information spaces in a flexible manner without feeling lost. A key property of the interface is the explicit exposure of category metadata, to guide the user toward possible choices, and to organize the results of keyword searches. The interface uses hierarchical faceted metadata in a manner that allows users to both refine and expand the current query, while maintaining a consistent representation of the collection's structure. This use of metadata is integrated with free-text search, allowing the user to follow links, then add search terms, then follow more links, without interrupting the interaction flow.

FLAMENCO stands for FLexible information Access using MEtadata in Novel COmbinations.

Searching

Revised Name Authority Records

The lists of names being revised by adding death dates or changing the open date to a birth date is way too much for a small library to look through. When the lists first appeared I started to check them with my catalog, but soon stopped. Too few hits for the time invested.

Here is an idea, maybe some large library (or OCLC) that has most of these names in their catalog could create a list that shows the class number most associated with an author. If I could just check the QBs, QCs, QEs, and TLs I could find most of the changes in our catalog. I'd guess a music library, or management library or law library would like to check just their areas also. How about it? Any takers?

Names

Metasearch

Index Data has a demo of a metasearch tool available, MasterKey.

This is an early prototype of a new metasearch technology developed by Index Data. It is scheduled for general release during the spring of 2007. It enables efficient metasearching of up to hundreds of databases at the same time using Z39.50, SRU/W, or proprietary protocols. It is a powerful, open-source-based alternative to proprietary, closed-source metasearch alternatives.

The technology supports on-the-fly merging, relevance-ranking, or sorting by arbitrary data elements. It also supports any number of result facets for limiting result sets by subject, author, etc.

Metasearch

Addition to the MARC Code Lists for Relators, Sources, Description Conventions

The code listed below has been recently approved for use in MARC 21 records. The code will be added to the online MARC Code Lists for Relators, Sources, Description Conventions.

The code should not be used in exchange records until after May 1, 2007. This 60-day waiting period is required to provide MARC 21 implementers time to include newly defined codes in any validation tables they may apply to the MARC fields where the codes are used. Other Sources

The following code is for use in subfield $a in field 042 (Authentication Code) in Bibliographic and Authority records.

Addition:

• scipio - SCIPIO: Art and Rare Book Sales Catalogs [use after May 1, 2007]

MARC

MARC Tool, File_MARC

Here is a new MARC tool, File_MARC, announced at Code4Lib.

This package enables you to read existing MARC records from a file, string, or (using the YAZ extension), from a Z39.50 source. You can also use this package to create new MARC records.

This package is based on the PHP MARC package, originally called "php-marc", that is part of the Emilda Project. Christoffer Landtman generously agreed to make the "php-marc" code available under the GNU LGPL so it could be used as the basis of this PEAR package.

MARC

Additions to the MARC Country and Geographic Area Code Lists

As the result of both Montenegro and Serbia declaring independence from the state union of Serbia and Montenegro in June 2006, new country and geographic area codes have been defined for use in MARC records.

1. MARC country code changes

The new country codes are:

• rb - Serbia
• mo - Montenegro

Both were previously coded "yu" for Serbia and Montenegro from 1992-April 2007. Prior to October 1992, "yu" was used for Yugoslavia, which included the Socialist republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia.

The country code "yu" will become obsolete for new records.

2. MARC geographic area code changes

The new geographic area codes are:

• e-rb - Serbia
• e-mo - Montenegro

Yugoslavia [e-yu] will be retained for works on Yugoslavia as a whole (including the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) and former Yugoslav republics before they separated.

Subscribers can anticipate receiving MARC records reflecting these changes in all distribution services not earlier than April 28, 2007.

MARC

MARC::Errorchecks

Bryan Baldus made this announcement on AUTOCAT perl4lib.

I have posted new versions of MARC::Errorchecks (to CPAN and my home page), MARC::Lint::CodeData (included in Errorchecks, my home page, and most recent version will be available in CVS on SourceForge, as part of MARC::Lint), and MARC::Lintadditions (at my home page only, since I would eventually like to move these checks into MARC::Lint). I have also posted a new version of LCSHchangesparserpl110.txt (to the inprocess directory of my home page). The script is used to parse a text version of LC's weekly new and changed headings Web pages to leave a tab-delimited text file of headings that have changed. Following LC's recent website redesign, the script currently complains about the first lines of the input files, but it seems to do a reasonably good job of creating the list of changed headings.

A question: Both MARC::Lint and MARC::Errorchecks in CPAN include a copy of MARC::Lint::CodeData. Should I update MARC::Lint to version 1.43 with the only change being the inclusion of the new version 1.14 of CodeData?

I have posted a new module, MARC::Lint::Lint_Authority.pm. This will be a module essentially copying MARC::Lint, but with a data section and methods for validating MARC format for Authority data rather than Bibliographic. An initial version of this module appears in the inprocess directory. I have not done much testing, but what little I have done seems to successfully do basic lint validation.

MARC

LibraryThing's ISBN Feed.

LibraryThing has created a feed of the ISBNs in their system. Now you can compare your holdings to theirs. Since there is talk of LibraryThing making available book covers and tags this would be a good first step, check to see just how much match there is.

LibraryThing

NH Classification

Here is a special classification I'd not meet before, NH Classification Schedule for Artistic Photography. Makes sense, at first glance. Why have some art books in the technology area, just because of the tools used? BTW are the computer art books in art or technology?

The NH schedule is designed for the classification of photography books of an artistic nature. It was initially compiled for the 4th edition of N, which was issued in 1970. When the Library of Congress rejected the proposed subclass for art photography, it was published by ARLIS/NA in 1974. NH has been adopted by a number of libraries with strong collections of artistic photography as an alternative to TR, which emphasizes the technical aspects of photography.

Classification

Tagging and Evaluation

D. Taraborelli at Academic Productivity has posted an interesting article, Soft peer review? Social software and distributed scientific evaluation.

Online reference managers are extraordinary productivity tools, but it would be a mistake to take this as their primary interest for the academic community. As it is often the case for social software services, online reference managers are becoming powerful and costless solutions to collect large sets of metadata, in this case collaborative metadata on scientific literature. Taken at the individual level, such metadata (i.e. tags and ratings added by individual users) are hardly of interest, but on a large scale I suspect they will provide information capable of outperforming more traditional evaluation processes in terms of coverage, speed and efficiency.

Tagging

Connexion Problem Fix

OCLC has developed updates to install to fix the problem in Connexion client caused by Microsoft Windows update KB918118. With KB918118 installed on your workstation, you cannot open and display records from online or local files in the Connexion client.

To fix this problem, go to the OCLC software download page and download and install the Connexion client 1.70 update or the Connexion client 1.60 update, depending on which version of the client you are using. Go to the client known problems page for installation instructions.

Please note: When you are ready to upgrade to the next version of Connexion client, you must first uninstall both your current version and the update program.

Seen on AUTOCAT.

Connexion