Cataloging and Metadata Department
Training Committee
Report on 1st meeting of the Cataloging
and Metadata Department Training Committee
Monday, October 18, 2004
Members present: Jackie Brown, Doug Smith, Marcia Alden, Jorge Gonzalez
(chair)
Absent: Julia Allen
Addressing charge topics:
Solicit staff input regarding training interests
-
Members feel that this topic should take a backseat to other more pressing
(immediate) issues. All members approved a postponement of this topic. Future
discussions will include better ways of retrieving staff input besides sending
out surveys. One way to address the issue (passively, by buying time) was
to consider creating a website where staff could contribute ideas
and such regarding training and lack thereof.
Maintaining an awareness of cataloging training
needs throughout the library -
This should be a two-way street, meaning how can we facilitate communication
of training needs by working with the (Aleph) Cataloging Trainers mailing
list (plus any others missed) directed to those who are identified,
delegated, targeted or otherwise chosen liaisons or auxiliary staff to further
disseminate training information and more precisely provide comprehensive
and supplementary training to those in their charge. Two-way communication
will create a link to make sure all those needing training in any specific
database or procedures and such will get the training they need.
Developing training agenda -
Identify trainers for classes and presentations -
Schedule and announce classes and presentations -
These three interrelated topics helped us identify two distinct but related
cataloging training types:
- A general (less-formal) yet individual-specific
training session that generally involves one-on-one (or such) attention
usually by a training coordinator (most instances Jackie B.), This training
is implemented after negotiating the needs of the trainee with consultation
from trainee's supervisor and existing documentation.
[Discussion items included: should this be deflected to the training committee, and should this responsibility be better acknowledged in scope and allotted time in one's position description?] - A more formal group-specific related training addressing new functions and databases that meets the training needs of the whole cataloging staff, that requires the identification of trainers for specific classes and the coordination of a group such as this one to schedule and announce training classes. The group will also discuss what documentation is needed for specific presentations and how many and what kind of sessions will take place.
Submit annual report of committee's activities
-
This was not discussed for it seemed plainly detailed. There will be future
discussions on what to include here.
Other agenda items discussed:
Connexion (the next version of OCLC access
database) will be in full use soon while CatME (the latest version) will
be eventually phased out. The group discussed (while taking into account
tentatively approved training steps) plans on how to proceed with setting
up the necessary mechanisms to successfully accomplish the task of training
everyone that needs to be trained to use the new database. The following
were identified:
Creation of a timeline that clearly delineates the transition period that
is the beginning phase of implementation of Connexion and signals the decline
of use and eventual elimination of CatME.
The identification of those who/how many will need the training.
The identification of those who will carry out the training and how many
classes will be needed.
And re-edit of previous documentation and creation of new version to supplement
the teaching required for learning the new database.
More specific details were left for the next meeting. It was everyone's
opinion that just implementing this project alone will take up most of the
time of this committee for the next several months.
Additionally, the group recognized the need for identifying cataloging tools (i.e., oclc.org, Classweb, AACR2, Marc standards, etc.) which may help others learn about resources they did not know were available or find out if they may need additional training or refresher courses. This cataloging tools could be found in one page with a brief explanation and a link to that actual website.
