September 1999
Technical Services Law Librarian
Volume 25 No. 1 http://www.aallnet.org/sis/tssis/tsll/tsll.htm September, 1999 ISSN: 0195-4857
INSIDE: The Internet From the Officers: TS-SIS Chair...... 3 The Digital Object Identifier System Kevin Butterfield OBS-SIS Chair...... 4 Southern Illinois University Article: [email protected] Technical Tips...... 6 In 1997, The Association of American Publishers released the Digital Object Columns: Identifier (DOI) system. The DOI arose from the publishing industry’s concern Internet...... 1 over copyright management in the emerging digital, networked environment. Miss Manager...... 8 Describing the DOI as “the license plate for digital content on the information OBS OCLC Committee...... 10 superhighway”, the AAP unveiled the project to mixed reviews. Research & Publications...... 11 Serials...... 13 Comparable to ISBN or Dewey Decimal numbers, DOI ultimately will achieve Subject Headings...... 14 much more, including identifying everything from a book to chapters and even Minutes: smaller units of text within the book—vastly enlarging the universe of copyrighted, OBS-SIS Business Meeting.....16 saleable objects. The creation of an international system in which publishers and OBS-SIS RLIN Committee...... 17 other owners of copyright regularly tag their pieces of intellectual property with OBS/TS-SIS Research DOIs in the way that book publishers regularly use ISBNs is the goal of the Roundtable...... 18 project. The DOI system consists of three parts: TS-SIS Business Meeting...... 19 Ø A two-part identifying number, the DOI, assigned by the DOI agency and TS-SIS Committee on Cataloging the publisher that identifies both publisher and document; and Classification...... 22 Ø An automated directory, composed of a computer system that will accurately Parting Thoughts: link an object, be it a book, picture or CD-ROM, to whomever currently A Guide to Library Technical owns it; Terms...... 24 Ø The databases maintained by publishers that provide further information to the user.
The DOI A DOI consists of a unique, persistent identifier providing a link between a user and a rights-holder or distributor. Each publisher is assigned one or more prefixes. The first two digits of the prefix identify the directory manager who assigned the number. After the first two digits comes a number indicating the publisher. This is called the publisher ID or the Information Provider ID. The publisher ID is followed by a slash, a suffix, and the item ID. The publisher or rights holder assigns this set of characters that identifies the content uniquely. (continued on page 23)
Newsletter of the Technical Services Special Interest Section and the On-Line Bibliographic Services Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries 1999-2000 Officers and Committee Chairs TSLL Staff OBS-SIS TS-SIS Editors: Linda Tesar and Chair: Chair: Anna Belle Leiserson Brian Striman Janet McKinney Vanderbilt University Law School University of Nebraska - Lincoln University of Missouri- Kansas City [email protected] Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect: Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect: [email protected] Ellen McGrath Alva T. Stone SUNY Buffalo Florida State University Business Manager: Secretary/Treasurer: Secretary/Treasurer: Cindy May Cynthia Cicco Linda Tesar University of Wisconsin University of Pittsburgh Vanderbilt University [email protected] Members-at-Large: Members-at-Large: Webmaster: Marla Schwartz JoAnn Hounshell Martin E. Wisneski American University Northwestern University Washburn University Georgia Briscoe Cynthia May University of Colorado University of Wisconsin Contributing Editors: Education Committee: Acquisitions Committee: Acquisitions: Ellen McGrath Carmen Brigandi JoAnn Hounshell SUNY Buffalo California Western School of Law Northwestern University Local System Committee: Awards Committee: Marla Schwartz Susan Goldner Jean Pajerek American University Univ. of Arkansas - Little Rock Cornell University Classification: Nominations Committee: Cataloging & Classification Committee: Regina Wallen Arturo Lopez Torres Chris Long Stanford University Gonzaga University Indiana University Marie Whited OCLC Committee: Yale Law School Education Committee: Susan Chinoransky Collection Development: Janet McKinney Sandra Sadow George Washington University University of Missouri- Kansas City Widener University RLIN Committee: Exchange of Duplicates Committee: Description and Entry: Anne Myers Kristina Kuhlman Melody Lembke Boston University Georgetown Los Angeles County Law Library Web Advisory Committee: Joint Research Grant Committee The Internet Sarah Andeen Corinne Jacox Kevin Butterfield Superior Court of Arizona University of Orlando Southern Illinois University Preservation Committee: MARC Remarks: Publication Schedule Pat Turpening Rhonda Lawrence Issues are published quarterly in University of Cincinnati UCLA School of Law March, June, September, and College of Law Research and Publications: December. Serials Committee: G. LeGrande Fletcher Joan Liu Brigham Young University Deadlines: New York University Serials: V.25:no.2(Dec. 1999)...... 30 Oct. 1999 Margaret McDonald V.25:no.3(Mar. 2000)...... 31 Jan. 2000 University of San Diego V.25:no.4(June 2000)...... 30 Apr. 2000 Christina Tarr V.26:no.1(Sept. 2000)...... 15 Aug. 2000 University of California Berkeley Subject Headings: Alva T. Stone Florida State University TSLL EDITORIAL POLICY Technical Services Law Librarian (ISSN 0195-4857) is an official publication of the Editorial Board: Technical Services Special Interest Section and the Online Bibliographic Services OBS-SIS: Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries. It carries Mary Stanco (1998-2000) reports or summaries of the convention meetings and other programs of OBS-SIS Cleveland Marshall and TS-SIS, acts as the vehicle of communication for the SIS committee activities, Susan Goldner (1999-2001) and carries current awareness and short implementation reports. Prospective authors Univ. of Arkansas - Little Rock should contact the editors for style information. TS-SIS: Richard Vaughan (1999-2000) Statements and opinions of the authors are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect Indiana University-Bloomington those of AALL, TS-SIS, OBS-SIS, or the TSLL Editorial Board. Pamela Deemer (1999-2001) Subscriptions: Provided as a benefit of membership to Sections members. Non- Emory University member subscriptions: Domestic: $10.00; Foreign: $15.00. Contact the TSLL Business Manager or the American Association of Law Libraries.
Page 2 Technical Services Law Librarian, Vol. 25, No. 1 From the Chair echnical Services Special Interest Section
T“Oh. It’s the issue with all the minutes Working on this column has given me six months how much we truly do again.” That’s what many of you a few moments’ opportunity to reflect, depend on the information given in the thought when you took a look at this so I’ll ask your indulgence for my survey responses. It is your main issue. Yes, reading minutes is not whining. I recognize that I’m not doing opportunity to express your opinions usually a fun activity, and it’s not going this all on my own; there are a lot of about the activities and direction of the to help you catalog that new looseleaf, our fellow members working just as section. OK, I sang this same song at negotiate a license agreement, decide hard as I am on TS-SIS business. And least four times last year, so I’ll let Alva on a new vendor, or any of the other isn’t that one of the purposes of an take it up. million real-life tasks waiting. But organization such as ours? To pool There is a small group of members, unless you were at each of the meetings, resources to benefit the members? I along with colleagues from OBS, which you should skim the minutes at least. truly appreciate every one of you that work hard throughout the year to bring After all, you chose to join the TS-SIS, worked on a program proposal in some us this great newsletter. I know how and someone paid for it, so you should capacity and those of you that said, valuable this benefit of membership is monitor what’s going on. ‘Nough said. “OK” when I asked you to do to each of us, and I applaud the Editors, something for the section! I’m counting This past year went much too quickly! the Business Manager and the Board for on that willingness to continue from It seemed sudden that I was no longer their contributions. I happen to know, others as I ask for participation in the comfortable position of Vice- though, that it’s not an exclusive group throughout the year. Chair/Chair-Elect, and now I feel the – they welcome input, especially in the not-so-comfortable responsibility of the TS-SIS has a lot to do this year. That’s form of articles or guest position of Chair of TS-SIS. There’s true every year, and I’m sure those that columnists, from any of no chance for a deep breath, either. Not have chaired the section in the past you. Just don’t expect to long after returning from the Annual would heartily agree. First of all, there find out whom Ms. Meeting, two deadlines and a basketful are the programs for the annual Manager is (several of us of details faced me. As I begin writing meeting. Many of you may not know tried in DC, but, alas, to this column, I’m waiting for a last- that the proposals are just the beginning no avail) and have a minute program proposal, wondering of a process that continues throughout good attitude when it which proposal to select as the section’s the year. Once a program is selected, comes to accompany- guaranteed program at next year’s that program’s coordinator takes over ing clip-art. annual meeting, and hoping next year’s the task of seeing it through to In the coming months, we have a programs will live up to the high completion in July by securing speakers number of goals to at least start on, all standard set by those presented this and a moderator if necessary, and of which are in some way interrelated. year. making sure they meet the many Shortly, I will be forming an ad hoc deadlines between now and then. The Strategic Planning Advisory coordinator is also responsible Committee. This committee will be for the program descriptions in assigned the task of reporting to the the preliminary and final Executive Board its recommendations programs. My thanks to on a strategic plan for the Technical those of you who have Services Special Interest Section. I agreed to take on this decided a year ago that this would be often-unrecognized task! the emphasis for my term as Chair, and In a couple of months, I believe it is imperative to accomplish Alva will begin her major this goal before we can deal with the assignment – the annual issue of whether to merge with the survey. This is no minor Online Bibliographic Services Special task! Please support her in Interest Section. I’m not ignoring the any way you can, results of the survey, in which the especially by completing majority of members and non-members the survey and returning it alike were in favor of investigating a on time. I learned the past merger. It could not be a fair evaluation
Technical Services Law Librarian, September, 1999 Page 3 of the merger issue without already Joe Thomas readily accepted the also plan to formalize duties for the new having a firm grasp of what TS-SIS is assignment of reviewing the TS-SIS Executive Board Member-at-Large and all about. I sent out a call for volunteers “handbook” (go to the TS-SIS Web site the process by which standing for this ad hoc committee on the TS- to take a look yourself) to correct committee members are assigned. SIS listserv, but I’m certainly still inconsistencies among the documents Ugh, I almost feel like whining again! hoping to hear from any of you wishing and between the documents and our I won’t, though, because I know that I’ll to serve or who knows someone to practices. Thanks, Joe! Soon we will have more than enough help from you. recommend. I’d like to have members begin the process of formally Right? of the committee who are shorter-term, disbanding the Exchange of Duplicates medium-term, and long-term members Committee as a standing committee and Janet McKinney of the section, and those from a variety asking the Serials Committee to accept University of Missouri- Kansas City of library types. it as a permanent subcommittee. We [email protected]
From the Chair nline Bibliographic Services OSpecial Interest Section Before I do another thing—— special For those who haven’t kept up on the Most of the merger investigation will thanks are in order. OBS question of investigating merging revolve around two biggie elements: until now, read through your past 2 1) Are the OBS statements of its There are a lot of really good, hard- TSLL’s for more details. Briefly, this mission outdated and/or not as working, dedicated people who’ve investigation arises because a margin precise and accurate as they should helped me out tremendously this past of 3-to-1 in favor of investigating be? and year — volunteers who wrote down merging was tallied from the 1998/99 commitments and ideas on the OBS OBS survey results. The numbers of 2) Are the OBS committees doing survey, volunteering their time and respondents (54) was hardly a loud what they are “supposed” to be energy because they believe OBS is a mandate when compared to the total doing? — Or perhaps, do the worthwhile SIS. At least that’s the only OBS membership (317). But, the committees know what they’re reason I can think of that people who margin of votes in favor of investigation suppose to be doing? Phone calls, are already way too busy at work can is simply too large to ignore. etc. will need to be made. volunteer to help out and provide Let’s peer at OBS with a telescope for As chair, I figure I have four major areas comments and advice. You know, it now; then in later columns we can get to take care of for OBS this year: really is people who make the out the microscope for some serious difference in any organization... but, I 1) Investigate whether OBS should investigation. Let’s begin our digress... Anyway, thank you for “merge” with TS SIS; OBServations by gazing at the trusting me to take the OBS reigns for 2) Have corrections and updates statement of OBS as it appears in our a year. We have horses hitched up, the OBS Web site: wagon’s loaded up and ready to go, but made to the OBS Web site; wait! Who has the map? Where is the 3) Make sure that OBS education “The Online Bibliographic Services map? Where are we going?? programs are well advertised; and Special Interest Section (OBS-SIS) of the American Association of Law 4) Work hard to avoid scheduling [fade to black] Libraries focuses on all aspects of the conflicts between various national and local bibliographic [insert sweet babbling brook sounds] OBS and TS business utilities. These include public access to and com- Some OBServations bibliographic data online, acquisitions mittee sub-systems, mail message systems, Narcissus would be pleased with OBS, meetings and integration of circulation systems as we will be looking at ourselves at for Phila- with the online bibliographic data. The least for the whole year, perhaps delphia. Section: longer! Yes OBS fans, this is the — That’s a Year of the Mirror— we are going to pretty full * Facilitates the exchange of OBSess with OBStinacy about plate. information on the choice and whether we are OBSolete. installation of local and national
Page 4 Technical Services Law Librarian, Vol. 25, No. 1 online bibliographic systems, away from merge. There are many * Provides opportunities for its bibliographic convincing pros and cons members to share ideas for more utilities concerning merging. But effective and efficient use of their interfacing local for now, let’s bask in the systems, systems. I don’t warm glow of the six believe there’s been a programs that were * Monitors the products and services systems comparison proposed and submitted to of the online systems, and program like that in AMPSC for 2000 in Philadelphia. * Communicates concerns of law many years. I’m happy These are not in any order. I am libraries to the systems and that one has currently very pleased with these proposals networks.” been proposed and is and hope you are too. They The above sounds good, eh? So, what sponsored by OBS for represent an enormous amount of committees does OBS have currently AALL in Philadelphia. work just to get them resurrected, polished and submitted by the to provide a forum to match the I write about this very short deadline of August statements above? We have the Local because certainly some 16th. [Insert applause to the OBS Systems Committee, the OCLC and of the larger questions Education Committee and all the RLIN committees, the Web Advisory OBS must address pop coordinators and others who Committee, and the Education immediately to mind: Committee. These are what I call the helped] *** Is there still a need “service” committees. That is, they are 1. Core Competencies for for an AALL forum the mechanisms that are supposed to Support Staff: Librarians As that deals with serve the needs of the OBS membership Departmental Leaders (Phyllis issues related to specifically, but also exist to help non- Post, coordinator) online OBS members when their needs match bibliographic 2. What I Like, Who Has It and the purpose of OBS. The other utilities? Perhaps Can I Have It? An Update on committee in OBS, the Nominations utility networks and users councils Library Integrated Systems (Tim Committee, is not a service committee meet these needs. Knight, coordinator) but an internal committee — and extremely necessary. Then there is the *** Is there still a need for an AALL 3. Instant Gratification! The Z39.50 other crucial component of the OBS forum that deals with issues related Gateway to Searching, Cataloging “staff” ... your beloved officers. to local systems? and ILL (2 part-program, Mary Jane Kelsey, coordinator) Well, as the story goes, OBS became a Perhaps these needs are being met via 4. The Text Encoding Initiative and full-fledged SIS in 1977. Imagine back local systems users groups, e-mail Electronic Legal Texts (Kevin then, twenty-two years ago; the time discussion lists, and published Butterfield, coordinator) when bibliographic utilities were literature which covers such “immature”— mere fledglings — and information (e.g., “Library Systems 5. Leadership Through Experi- the needs of AALL librarians for Newsletter” published by ALA, or mentation: Modern-day Benjy information-sharing about those utilities OBS/AALL sponsored “Local Systems Franklins (Sally Wambold, were very mature. In those days, the Directory.”). coordinator) meeting rooms were full of folks I’m going to approach this merger 6. The Alphabet Soup of Cooperative wanting to vent and needing more investigation slowly. First I’ll write Cataloging: Leading Through information than they could get some TSLL OBS Chair columns, and Participation in NACO, SACO, elsewhere. Discussions took place on I’ll attend an AALL sponsored retreat BIBCO, and CONSER (Ellen issues and problems that were more in mid-October in Chicago where all McGrath, coordinator) specific to law libraries. The need was SIS chairs are asked to attend to discuss Lastly, for now (heh heh.... there will so great that beginning in 1987, there leadership and strategic planning. After be more later)— please, please contact was a series of yearly AALL programs the retreat I’ll talk with some me, or any OBS officer if you haven’t called “Micros to Mainframes” whose experienced folk who’ve been through already made your “merging” opinions large rooms were filled with an SIS dissolution. I’ll also be asking known via last year’s OBS survey or participants. Everyone wanted to know the OBS members-at-large to help with talking to me personally. Next column the most current best systems on the some phone calls. In a few months, we’ll get into pros and cons that were market, and they wanted to hear from Ellen McGrath will start researching the written in the survey. librarians rather than vendors. Bill history of OBS and should also uncover Walton, James Hambleton and Richard details on a similar investigation of OBS Brian Striman Leiter spoke on numerous library merging with TS-SIS several years ago University of Nebraska systems, large and small, but stayed where the membership voted not to [email protected]
Technical Services Law Librarian, September, 1999 Page 5 Technical Tips Ellen C. Rappaport Albany Law School [email protected]
Some Tales of ALA 1999 Midwinter a lot of the material in law libraries. The chronology, and when they change title, and Annual Meetings: big difference is in recognizing the they sometimes drop the old title I picked up my copy of the newly- serial nature of loose-leaf titles, sets completely. These loose-leaf revised Anglo-American Cataloguing with supplementation, and Web sites. characteristics are troubling to Rules at ALA’s Midwinter meeting, in If we change the way we catalog them, catalogers accustomed to normal January. Its cover is a pale, diffident our online systems may treat them periodicals and serials, but they’re old green, unlike the bold hunter green of differently. hat to law library catalogers whose the 1988 edition. After attending this loose-leafs have been integrating for The paper presents this model of year’s ALA meetings, I suspected that decades! Now as the rest of the world’s seriality: the tentative color may represent the catalogers deal with Web sites, the fleeting nature of this edition. Static resources (no seriality): Static concept of integrating resources may items are complete when they are first solve our problems with loose-leafs. A major topic, in January and in June issued (or published), whether in a was: What is a serial, and how should Hirons’ paper proposes to develop single part (a one-volume novel), or in we describe (catalog) it? Over the past cataloging rules that allow us to multiple parts (a two-disk compact disk several years, the CONSER Task Force describe library material which is static, recording). This category includes on AACR has discussed the nature of which is successively-issued, and which books, e-texts (such as e-books), maps, seriality. Jean Hirons of the Library of is integrating. It recommends changes sound recordings, etc. Congress has played a leading role in to AACR2 which will accommodate all this discussion, and is the chief author Successively-issued resources: these forms. For integrating resources, of the Task Force’s April 1999 paper Information is added to successively- it proposes to begin with Adele “Revising AACR2 to Accommodate issued items in a succession of discrete Hallam’s Cataloging Rules for the Seriality: Report to the Joint Steering parts. This category includes serials, Description of Loose-leaf Publications, Committee on the Revision of AACR” series and multi-part items that are not adding rules as needed for electronic [available at www.nlc-bnc.ca/jsc/ser- complete when they are first issued, resources. This is good news for law rep0.html]. She spoke at Midwinter, at such as a large treatise published in 8 catalogers who have long relied on numerous meetings at ALA’s June volumes over five years. It also includes Hallam’s work. conference, and at AALL. In her paper, monographic titles (themselves static) We may get to be less picky about what seriality (the serial nature of library which are updated by a succession of is a title change. In fact, it is material, or bibliographic resources) is supplements. recommended that we think less about defined thus: Integrating resources: Information is what constitutes a title change, more “Seriality refers to the fact that certain added to integrating resources in a about what requires a new bibliographic types of bibliographic resources are succession of changes which do not record. Title changes may not issued over time, regardless of whether remain discrete. This category includes necessarily generate a new bib record. they are intended to be complete or have loose-leafs, Web sites (made up of By June, it looked as though print no predetermined conclusion, and thus, many changing Web pages), and periodicals and series will continue to the bibliographic data can change over changing databases. receive successive entry cataloging (a time.” separate bibliographic record for each For years, the cataloging rules title change). But integrating entities This is broader than the present AACR2 considered loose-leafs as monographs such as loose-leafs, Web sites and definition of a serial: “A publication in (they sit in a single binder), while we additive databases may be cataloged on any medium issued in successive parts struggled with their added pages and one bib record under their latest title and bearing numeric or chronological changing authors, titles, and publishers. latest publisher, with earlier titles and designations and intended to be Law librarians have always known that publishers added. Electronic journals continued indefinitely.” loose-leafs had seriality. Like loose- (e-journals) which change title may be leafs, Web sites may not have cataloged by successive entry (separate If implemented, the new concept of successive issues, they may not have records) if the earlier title still appears seriality will change the way we catalog incrementing numbering or on the earlier issues. But those e-
Page 6 Technical Services Law Librarian, Vol. 25, No. 1 journals which display only the latest reason to pay attention to metadata. He Rust put it this way: title (even for the old issues which were connected many of the standards being * PEOPLE make STUFF. (Authors originally issued under the earlier title) developed for identifying works and write books, singers record songs, may be cataloged all on one bib record users. etc.) under the latest title. Metadata is a general term for structured * PEOPLE use STUFF. (Readers read data which describes other data. A Another paper which was discussed at books, fans listen to concerts, etc.) cataloging record is our best-known ALA in June was MARBI Discussion example of metadata: it describes a * PEOPLE make deals about STUFF. Paper no. 114 “Seriality and MARC 21” particular book; it can be linked to one (Readers buy books and subscribe to [available at lcweb.loc.gov/marc/marbi/ or more unique identifying numbers. magazines, fans purchase dp/dp114.html]. MARC 21 is the name The term “metadata” is now being used recordings, readers borrow books for the newly-combined U.S. and mostly for machine-generated or and articles through Interlibrary Canadian MARC formats, which author-generated data which describes Loan, readers photocopy articles, provide computer labels, or tags, for electronic resources, such as Web sites. restaurants play recordings of songs, cataloging records. If AACR2 is Ideally, metadata is carried within the publishers reprint photographs, changed, MARC coding must change electronic resource, so that the resource people download text, data, video too. comes with all the data needed to find clips, sound clips, etc.) That pale green cover of AACR2 may it and to track its use. Rust suggested that now that articles, reflect an effort to reorganize the To allow us to find (or otherwise deal sound recordings, video clips and cataloging rules. The Task Force is with) a book or other object, it must databases are readily available urging a three-part book: Part I could have some kind of unique identifier electronically, in our libraries and on be description, no longer organized by (perhaps a number), and a description the Web, we need far tighter control physical format, but by area of that goes with that identifier so we know over who may use our resources than a description, more like most MARC- — with certainty — what is being library card that allows you to borrow tagging manuals. Since physical identified. In the library and publishing a book. He maintained that authors, formats overlap these days, they are no worlds, we already have standards that publishers, booksellers, providers of longer an unambiguous way to organize identify and describe the things we databases, and libraries share the need the rule book — the cataloger can no purchase, collect and lend: ISBN and to identify material (STUFF), its users longer be sure which chapter to start ISSN, UPC codes, AACR and (PEOPLE) and the terms on which it is with. (Is it a book or is it electronic? Is USMARC, Dewey and LC call used (DEALS). Rust spoke of creators it a sound recording or a serial?) Part numbers, and many others. To some and of creations. He defined a right as II could again be concerned with access degree, these traditional forms of “authority originating in law for a Party points. Part III could deal with metadata allow unique identification to do or to authorize another Party to relationships to other works: linking and description. But they were do a defined act to a Creation.” He entries and uniform titles. Some of the designed for specific uses by libraries, spoke of rights-owners and of rights thinking underlying this proposal is in booksellers and publishers, to describe administration. He reminded us that Tom Delsey’s complex paper “The relatively simple resources which were libraries, although we may not charge Logical Structure of the Anglo- stored in a physical location. Some for use, still have agreements by which American Cataloging Rules drafted for require significant intellectual work and we purchase and lend material. The Joint Steering Committee for the time to create. And, while these Revision of AACR” (August 1998), He insisted that, with electronic standards have rules and structures, they available at http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/jsc/ availability of creations, rights must be don’t fully relate to one another. aacrdel.htm. controlled automatically. There will Rust stated that we need a new kind of soon be far too many transactions to Comments on the Hirons paper can be metadata. It must be useful for many handle it manually. We will need submitted to the Joint Steering purposes. It should be generated when standard identifiers tied to descriptions Committee through September — the creation is first distributed and used (metadata). The advantage of the new instructions for commenting are on the over and over again (“do it once, do it kind of metadata (as opposed to JSC Web site, along with the paper. The right”). It should be capable of dealing traditional cataloging) is that it can be JSC will meet in the fall to continue with all kinds of material. It must deal built into the creation, and perhaps can these discussions. with complex aspects of that material: be generated automatically. a book is only taken off a shelf, but a Rust named several dozen digital object may be copied, excerpted, Godfrey Rust’s presentation at the organizations now working on schemes reformatted and distributed in a new annual meeting (during Midwinter) of for metadata to identify and describe medium, purchased or licensed with the National Information Standards book components, creations of all limitations. Organization (NISO) gave us all a kinds, sound recordings, musical works,
Technical Services Law Librarian, September, 1999 Page 7 audiovisuals, etc. This is an exciting moment, he said. “Metadata: The Right Approach : An Integrated Model for Because many standards are moving toward the same goal, Descriptive and Rights Metadata in E-commerce” is available there’s hope of interoperability — of compatibility which at http://www.dlib.org/dlib/july98/rust/07rust.html. G will allow us to use the various standards to generate the metadata we need to allow the use of material electronically. “Metadata is the lifeblood of e-commerce,” declared Rust. [This article is reprinted from ALLUNY: Association of Law Libraries of Upstate New York, Vol. 24 No. 1/2, March / Slides of his presentation are available on NISO’s Web site June 1999, p.23-26. Thank you to the author and editor for (http://www.niso.org/pdfs/rust.pdf). His related paper their permission.]
Miss Manager
To contact Miss Manager, please write in care of the TSLL Editors
to be extremely satisfying to the true proficient. Imagine a person who learns to weld and becomes better and better at it until he is so good that those who supervise his work decide he should pass on his skill to the less-experienced. That is a very good arrangement for the supervisors who guarantee themselves a steady supply of welders. It is not as good for the original welder who wants to weld. Dear Miss Manager: This is your analogous position. Your supervisors, perhaps I need help! It’s not just a single management question, but without your consultation, decided that it was more important management in general. Somehow, I’ve been thrust into the for you to train staff to perform their work well than to spend position of managing more and more staff when all I really as much time doing the specific tasks of cataloging. want to do is catalog. It wasn’t so bad when there was just Obviously, this vision of the upper management in your one staff member who had lots of experience and we each library does not match your own. Your first step should be spent most of the day cataloging and consulting one another to address the reasons for such a decision – if indeed it was and seeing that our student worker processed things a decision. Depending upon the way things are done in your correctly. But then we hired a second professional who library, this new scenario may be the result of drift rather needed lots of training and lots of supervision, then the than an active decision that came out of an organized strategy. original staff member retired, then I was given the loose- It is up to you to discuss this with your immediate supervisor leafers to supervise, and I have less and less time to do what (whether that is a department head, a director, a supervising I want! What should I do? attorney.) Find out what vision those who are in charge of Sincerely, the library’s big picture have for your area. You may discover that you have more leeway than you imagine. Born to Catalog One of the unfortunate truths about cataloging in a law library Dear Born : is that many of those who are not involved in it have little Miss Manager has known several catalogers who have found understanding of it. If you are convincing enough to make themselves in a situation which may be described as a cousin it clear that your skills are best put to use performing the of the Peter principle.* These catalogers are honestly highly professional and necessary task of cataloging, and uninterested in moving up any ladders, and are happy to do that the supervision of personnel should fall to someone else, nothing but catalog (although Miss Manager does not believe it may be a simple matter of moving around a few reporting that the element of incompetence implied in the true Peter lines. But you should be sure that is what you really want. It principle works in this category. Knowing where your is likely that those who set salaries will give more credit to strengths lie and seeking fulfilling work over advancements those who can manage people than those who don’t. This is are traits foreign to many in the business hierarchies just a reality of the workplace. addressed in that work.) If after attempting to redirect work patterns in your library Any skill which is challenging to learn, difficult to execute you find that things will not change, and if you are truly well, and arcane to those who are not familiar with it tends convinced that cataloging is the only work for you, you will
Page 8 Technical Services Law Librarian, Vol. 25, No. 1 have to look for work elsewhere. If that becomes the chosen They want managers who will give them guidance, alternative, you will have to look for either a very large law encouragement, and useful criticism. library that has positions available for people who only No one minds being persuaded to perform a task differently catalog, or a large research library outside of the legal field. or better if the persuasion is sensible, clear, and humane. It But Miss Manager would like to remind you that even if you is deep in human nature to respond aggressively (or at least were born to catalog, you chose to come into a profession defensively) to aggression, whether or not the aggressive that is changing very much with the times. It may be that manager has a good point to make. It is also deep in most those trained to be professional librarians will spend less and human beings to stop paying attention when processes less time doing the particular task (whatever it may be) that become too convoluted or uninteresting. Management is first attracted them into the profession. A librarian without primarily a species of human interaction; and the style and flexibility will have a very tough time in the years ahead. substance of management are deeply intertwined. *”1968 L. J. Peter Peter Principle (1969) i. 25 My analysis of Judging from the apparent styles of your management, I hundreds of cases of occupational incompetence led me on to suspect that the substance that you both lack is a proper formulate The Peter Principle: In a Hierarchy Every Employee respect for your employees. Respect for any person who Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence.” OED2 on CD- works under your direction is a minimal requirement in a ROM (Version 1.10). manager. Respecting someone does not mean that you Mis-Manager: pretend substandard work is acceptable or that immature behavior is just lightheartedness. Respecting someone means Pardon me for saying so, but you have got your head stuck that you are taking that person, and that person’s work, in the clouds, lady. All of your wishy-washy answers are seriously. You are willing to use the skills you have as a suitable (if at all) to those who work in some luxurious person overseeing the work of others to correct where academic ivory tower. You know nothing about managing necessary and to praise when appropriate. If you come down people in the real world. If you’d ever spent any time in a hard every time someone makes a mistake or fails to adhere really busy library where things actually need to get done, to your rules you will lose the respect of your employees you might have a clue. You would not be fretting over who’s because you have failed to show respect to them. On the happy and who’s not — that’s just bull. You give people a other hand, if you are removed from the nuts and bolts of the job. They do it or they don’t. If they don’t, they’re out on work you are supervising to such an extent that you cannot their ear. If they do, you pay them. You bust your butt to get offer concrete solutions, you lessen your chances of having the next thing done. It’s simple and requires no so-called any staff person pay attention to your advice. experts to guide the way. Mr. Gruff and Ms. Trendy, you are the twin peaks on every Sincere as hell, pointy-headed boss out there. I have never known a truly Mr. Gruff effective manager who was not, first, a decent person and, second, someone with good common sense. If you are Dear Miss Manager: lacking in either of those qualities, you should look to those I cannot abide your lack of managerial expertise. You have fundamental elements first and then decide if anything else never once mentioned the absolute necessity of beginning in your management style needs to be refined. every managerial encountering opportunity with a “visioning Dear Miss Manager: priorities briefing.” It is absolutely essential to first appropriately de-abstract the decisioning process by My boss is a wretch! He himself has no affection for pets of sessioning the inputting collaborators within the core any kind. My technical services staff are all passionate about community membership where the primary ownership of the their dogs and cats. My dictator/director refuses to let us agreed-upon themes are realized as resonant or non-resonant use sick time to care for our pets or to take them to the vet. with the elemental essencing of the mission statement. You How do I deal with such an insensitive lout? need to attend more seminars. Furiously, Sincerely, in the sense that my own views are Fido fanatic merely one set of potentialing enablers, Ms. Trendy Dear Furry, Dear Gruff and Trendy, Miss Manager refuses to enter into the religious wars between those who love animals as equals, or nearly so, and those Miss Manager would first like to take the opportunity to whose idea of human-animal interaction is chiefly express her profound gratitude for the undoubted blessing encompassed in the idea of livestock. I imagine that your of never having worked for either of you. If possible, could director has human resources policies on his side if you were you both put yourselves for a moment in the place of the to decide to push this issue. I would advise you not to fight staff person working in a law library who has some specific on something which you have little chance of winning and task to accomplish? I think it is clear enough that people in which will create animosity based on world views outside of such a position require neither an iron fist nor a pile of mush. law library practices. G
Technical Services Law Librarian, September, 1999 Page 9 OBS OCLC Committee
Susan Chinoransky George Washington University [email protected]
Pre-Conference Institute on broke into groups to give presentations Y2K Status Report Knowledge Access Management on concerns and actions to be taken by While in the exhibit hall at the AALL various factions within the library I was fortunate enough to have the conference in Washington, D.C., I community. All in all, I came away opportunity to attend the three-day happened to see a demonstration of a from the institute with a much better OCLC Institute, “Knowledge Access Y2K status report service at one of the understanding of the issues involved in Management: Tools and Concepts for larger vendor stations (yes, I earned my the organization of materials on the Next-Generation Catalogers,” cool bag!). It contained a list of that World Wide Web and how libraries can presented prior to the annual conference vendor’s products and services and their influence the ways in which the Web in Washington, D.C. This was truly a Y2K status. So, I got to wondering, should be organized. consciousness-raising experience! The does OCLC have such a list? Sure institute faculty consisted of Erik Jul, OCLC has vastly increased the number enough, they do! Not only that, but they Associate Director of the OCLC and type of institutes offered. They now have an entire portion of their Web page Institute, and Ann Sandberg-Fox, include the following: devoted to Year 2000 concerns. Cataloging Consultant and Trainer. Þ Knowledge Access Management According to K. Wayne Smith Erik Jul presents a scary yet exciting for Reference Librarians (remember him?), “Fixing the Year picture of opportunities that currently 2000 problem will cost the world at Þ Continuity and Innovation in present themselves for knowledge least a trillion dollars and OCLC at least Resource Sharing access managers (librarians) in today’s $8 million.” Dave Morris, project electronic environment. We can Þ Using Metadata for Knowledge manager of OCLC’s Year 2000 effort influence the way in which electronic Management and manager, OCLC Reference Offline resources are organized, or by inaction Þ Knowledge Access Management Products, says, “OCLC intends to have and lack of vision, we can become Tools and Concepts for all of its software compliant in time to marginalized and eventually left Next-Generation Catalogers allow additional end-to-end testing of behind. Ann Sandberg-Fox is among its systems before the deadline arrives.” Þ Knowledge Access on the Web: the first line of policy makers in the Most valuable is the product and service Metadata Applications cataloging community. Her status report at
Page 10 Technical Services Law Librarian, Vol. 25, No. 1 Research & Publications G. LeGrande Fletcher Brigham Young University [email protected]
Classification
Technical Services Law Librarian, September, 1999 Page 11 reached by the journal to which you importance of research in the tenure spend in the garden. submit. The problem should be stated process, and in garnering respect for our clearly, using the literature to give profession, but noted that more Low Hanging Fruit background and to show that the altruistically, research helps us to After some audience discussion, problem is significant. The problem understand ourselves and feel more including the advice from one audience statement should be followed by a satisfied in our jobs. She also mentioned member that newer librarians be hypothesis, “if this then that”. The some steps administrators can take to encouraged to get started with smaller research methodology should fit the foster research. These included and easier projects – “low hanging problem. Findings should be stated in a explicitly mentioning conduct of fruit,” Karen Calhoun, Cataloging Head separate section, followed by an research in job descriptions; evaluating at Cornell University
Page 12 Technical Services Law Librarian, Vol. 25, No. 1 Serials Margaret McDonald Christina Tarr University of San Diego University of California, Berkeley [email protected] [email protected]
Changed to: Changed to: Journal of law & family studies Willamette journal of international Vol. 1, no. 1 (1999)- law and dispute resolution (OCoLC 41401517) Vol. 5, no. 1 (1997)- (OCoLC 39651310) Journal of health and hospital law Vol. 21, no. 5 (May 1988)-v. 31, no. The following serial cessations were The following serial title changes were 2 (June 1998) identified by the University of San recently identified by the University of (OCoLC 17999014) Diego Legal Research Center serials California, Berkeley Law Library cata- Changed to: staff and the University of California, loging staff and the University of San Journal of health law Berkeley Law Library acquisitions Diego Legal Research Center serials Vol. 31, no. 3 (fall 1998)- staff: staff: (OCoLC 40650134) Change exchange : the newsletter for The American University journal of Law forum journal reduction of litigation cost and delay gender and the law Vol. 28, no. 1 (winter/spring 1998)-v. Ceased with: v. 10, no. 1 (Nov. Vol. 1, no. 1 (spring 1993)-v. 6, no. 3 28, no. 2 (summer 1998) 1995) (summer 1998) Changed to: (OCoLC 12879605) (OCoLC 27671879) University of Baltimore law forum Changed to: Vol. 29, no. 1 (summer/fall 1999)- Droit et pratique du commerce The American University journal of international = International trade gender, social policy & the law Legal.online law and practice Vol. 7, no. 1 (1998-1999)- Vol. 1, no. 1 (July 15, 1995)-v. 5, no. Ceased with: v. 22, no. 4 (1996) (OCoLC 41510353) 5 (May 1999) (OCoLC 2243128) Was absorbed by: Georgetown journal on fighting Internet newsletter Update on the courts poverty v. 4, no. 3 (June 1999)- Ceased with: v. 5, no. 3 (spring Vol. 1, no. 1 (1993)-v. 5, no. 2 1997) (summer 1998) Trust letter (OCoLC 26829395) Changed to: no. 41 (1973)-no. 397 (Dec. 1998) Georgetown journal on poverty law & Changed to: And, the newest policy ABA trust letter member of the Vol. 6, no. 1 (winter 1999)- No. 398 (Jan. 1999)- “bibliographic undead”: International Monetary Fund. Staff TVVS, otherwise known as papers Tijdschrift voor vennootschappen, The California Vol. 1 (Feb. 1950)-v. 45, no. 4 (Dec. verenigingen en stichtingen regulatory law 1998) 1. jaarg. (1. mei 1958)-41. jaarg. (dec. reporter (OCoLC 1753643) 1998) Publication suspended: Changed to: Merged with: 1996-1998; publication IMF staff papers Naamlooze vennootschap resumed with v. 16, no. Vol. 46, no. 1 (Mar. 1999)- to form: Ondernemingsrecht 1 (winter 1999) (OCoLC 41418786) 1991:1- Frequency: two no. a year, 1999- Journal of contemporary law Willamette bulletin of international (OCoLC 7533749) Vol. 1 (winter 1974)-v. 24, no. 2 law and policy (1998) Vol. 1 (1993)-v. 4 (1996) G (OCoLC 1205166) (OCoLC 28756393)
Technical Services Law Librarian, September, 1999 Page 13 Subject Headings Alva T. Stone Florida State University [email protected]
we don’t use “Polygamy (Canon law, Anglican communion)” (which is not a valid LCSH heading) for a book on POLYGAMY—LAW AND LEGISLATION—UNITED STATES, even though the latter was derived from the former. However that doesn’t mean that “religious” law has disappeared even in the United States. While the reception of Guest Author: Aaron W. Kuperman English canon law created one law for all citizens, many Library of Congress, religious minorities do not regard marriage as being solely an Regional and Cooperative Cataloging Division affair of state. For the most part, most non-Protestant [email protected] Americans still regard questions about marriage to be governed (N.B. This is not an official communication from the Library only in part by the legislature and in many aspects they still of Congress) follow their own religious law and use their own religious tribunals. In many Afro-Asian countries, each ethnic and Except for a handful of libraries with highly specialized religious group is expected to be governed by their own collections, the pending KB schedules won’t have a great domestic relations law (i.e., the religious or ethnic or tribal impact on the typical American law library. Most English- law is the law of the country for any given individual). language books that discuss Jewish, Islamic or Canon law are English-language books on Canon law domestic relations at least as likely to class with the law of the country rather usually class in KB since applicable cases (e.g., Catholic than in KB. Church and state classes by state, not by church. Church annulment proceedings) rarely involve state courts. Thus, subject headings, rather than classification, are the critical However, many cases involving other religious groups often element in communicating the mix of religion and law. end up in a civil court when an aggrieved party in divorce “Religious law” is a square peg that doesn’t fit well in the proceedings tries to use a state court to force the other spouse round hole of American law. Perhaps reflecting the almost to agree to a religious divorce. Once a state court is involved, “sacred” doctrine of separation of church and state, American the case is no longer one of “religious law” and classes in a lawyers intuitively feel that if something is “religious” it can’t number such as KE572, but with subject headings for the really be law. In most western jurisdictions religious courts secular topic DIVORCE—LAW AND LEGISLATION— are largely irrelevant, and it was unheard of for anyone to try [jurisdiction] and a second heading for the group in the form to manipulate the civil legal system in support of a theocratic of JEWS [RELIGIOUS MINORITIES, MUSLIM WOMEN, domestic relations regime. It was widely assumed that etc.]—LEGAL STATUS, LAWS, ETC.—[jurisdiction]. If the “modern” secular law would replace ethnic, religious, and book also discusses the internal “religious” law of the group, customary law throughout Africa and Asia, so that “religious” there might be an additional heading for that. law would increasingly be a subject for a few specialists and Cases of “religious law” ending up in “state” courts are not antiquarians rather than mainstream legal scholars. American limited to domestic relations. There is a number at KF760.R44 law cataloging practices evolved reflecting these perspectives. for books on writing a probatable will according to religious For starters, it is easiest to note when not to bring out “religion.” tenets. Again, the first heading is secular: WILLS—UNITED As an example, the historic common law definition of marriage STATES, the second heading is ethnic/religious for the group, as being between one man and one woman is not merely based e.g. MUSLIMS—LEGAL STATUS, LAWS, ETC.— on the Christian teachings but until relatively recently the only UNITED STATES and if the book also gets into the details of “marriage law” in England (and its American colonies) was religious law pertaining to wills a third heading may be needed, the applicable canon law (Jews being excepted). Those canon e.g. WILLS (ISLAMIC LAW). law principles were adopted, with modifications, into the Whether to include a heading for the “religious” law requires current “secular” domestic relations law applicable to all some thought. For example, a Pakistani law of Islamic persons, though it is still very obviously based on the 18th marriage (applicable to Muslims only, non-Muslims are century English canon law. We do not assign “religious” governed by different laws) would get a first heading for subject headings to works on this subject since they have lost MARRIAGE LAW—PAKISTAN and probably a second their religious identity and are now general law. For example, heading for MARRIAGE (ISLAMIC LAW). A heading for
Page 14 Technical Services Law Librarian, Vol. 25, No. 1 “Muslims—Legal status, laws, etc.” is stipulate that their private contracts are headings will be only of historical probably redundant in an governed by their own religious law, and interest to a library that collects only overwhelmingly Muslim country. that disputes will be litigated in religious American law. Some aspects of this area tribunals (which is usually considered a of law still lives on, however, such as In the above example, whether to include form of arbitration). This results in a SUNDAY LEGISLATION and a geographic, as in MARRIAGE broad range of private and commercial ASYLUM, RIGHT OF which have (ISLAMIC LAW)—PAKISTAN, matters ending up being litigated based taken on meanings transcending their should depend on whether the discussion on religious law. If one encounters a origins as aspects of the state church’s of the religious law is country specific. book on the subject, the “secular” legal status. For times and places where If the “Islamic” component of the book heading (supporting the class number) these are “legal” issues referring to laws is obviously Pakistani a geographic comes first, and the religious headings governing the established religion, they subdivision is needed and the book come later, e.g., ARBITRATION AND should be treated like any other law should class with law of the country (if AWARD—NEW YORK (STATE) subject heading (if not, they probably for example, an Egyptian or an followed by COURTS, JEWISH, but should class in B, not K). Many of these Indonesian saw the book, they would say with no geographic because Jewish law headings’ reference structures need “this is Pakistani and not relevant to my headings don’t take geographic revision (hint: SACO project needed?). studies of Islamic law except as an subdivision, unlike Islamic law headings. example of Pakistani practice”). Of American law librarians once course if the whole book lacks a The subject heading CHURCH AND comfortably thought they lived in a geographic orientation, it would class in STATE (which becomes RELIGION world of well-established, exclusively KB with the “religious” heading as a first [JUDAISM, ISLAM, etc.] AND STATE secular law. Today we confront legal heading. In what is an illogical in non-Christian countries) is still a hot literature reflecting a world with much inconsistency, Jewish and Canon law topic. Less controversial is the area of greater diversity, where in many headings generally do NOT accept ECCLESIASTICAL LAW (which countries “reception” is a problem for geographic qualifiers, while Islamic becomes RELIGIOUS LAW AND politicians rather than historians, and headings do. LEGISLATION in non-Christian where many ethnic and religious groups countries) and its many narrower terms look to their traditional religious One needs to avoid confusing laws that deal with issues arising when a jurisprudence as a vehicle for asserting applicable to a group with the customary religion is established, so that, for autonomy and promoting group laws of the group. For example, the example, TITHES and CHURCH survival. As catalogers, we can use the Indian divorce laws applicable to Hindus ATTENDANCE—LAW AND flexibility in subject heading arrays to are based on Anglo-American law rather LEGISLATION are governed by acts of help our users access these materials, than traditional Hindu law, and are the legislature. The American states even if they may seem quite bizarre to considered quite objectionable by many disestablished their state churches 200 our typical mono-cultural users. G Hindus. All books on the law of divorce years ago, so for the most part these in India, regardless of which group it is applicable to, get a first heading for the “secular” subject DIVORCE—LAW AND LEGISLATION—INDIA. A book on laws applicable only to Hindus then gets a second heading HINDUS— LEGAL STATUS, LAWS, ETC.— INDIA. Since the statute in question is not based on classical or traditional law, there is no need for an additional heading for DIVORCE (HINDU LAW). Such a heading would be misleading since the book is on secular (basically English) law being applied to Hindus in contrast to their own customary religious law. While domestic relations is the most common and “sexiest” area to find discussions of religious minorities having their own law, it exists elsewhere. To the extent allowed (and in the U.S., the constitutional right to make contracts means it is allowed), individuals can
Technical Services Law Librarian, September, 1999 Page 15 MINUTES Online Bibliographic Services SIS 1998/99 Annual Business Meeting
July 19, 1999 Reports of Committee and speaker at the Representatives: roundtable at which Jack Bissett, Chair, called the meeting there were 24 participants. He highly to order at 4:00 p.m. Jack introduced CONELL Marketplace: Sue Roach recommended the participation of Board members and thanked them for represented OBS at CONELL. She technical services librarians in their contribution: Brian Striman, stated that there were 96 participants publications. Alva Stone announced Incoming Chair-Elect, Marla Schwartz, this year at CONELL and she was able that she is a member of the editorial Member-at-Large, Ellen McGrath, to briefly introduce them to OBS. board for Cataloging and Classification Outgoing Member-at-Large, and Ismael TS/OBS/CS/RIPS Reception: Marla Quarterly. She will gladly advise Gullon, Outgoing Secretary-Treasurer. Schwartz stated that the reception went people about the journal’s policies and Jack called for the approval of the OBS well. She thanked Innovative Interfaces the kinds of articles the board accepts. SIS 1998 Annual Business Meeting for their contribution to the reception. Ellen will share that information with minutes as published in TSLL v. 24, no. Technical Services Law Librarian: LeGrande Fletcher, co-editor of the 2. The motion was carried. Jack wrote Linda Tesar reported that both Anna Research & Publications column in the OBS Annual Report which is Belle and she enjoyed being editors of TSLL. available at the OBS Web site TSLL. If there are any problems or Education Committee: Ellen
Page 16 Technical Services Law Librarian, Vol. 25, No. 1 MARC 21; (2) Proposal No. 98-08: Defining URL/URN Committee have served as Ad-hoc committees, we need to subfields in the MARC 21; (3) Discussion Paper No. 114: incorporate them as Standing Committees of OBS-SIS. The Seriality and MARC 21. A lively discussion ensued other revision to the Bylaws is the change from Robert’s regarding the “seriality” proposal. She needs to report to Rules of Order to Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary MARBI how law catalogers feel about the issues discussed Procedure as the official rules for conducting OBS meetings. so feel free to e-mail her with your comments and Alva Stone, Committee Chair, moved that the revised Article suggestions. 7, section 1, and Article 9 as shown, be approved and adopted. Both motions were carried. Joint Research Grant Committee: Corinne Jacox informed us that last year’s recipients were LeGrande Fletcher and Installation of new Board Members: Jack Bissett Christina Tarr. Mr. Fletcher’s research resulted in an article, introduced the new Board members: Brian Striman, Chair, “Nevada Practice Materials: A Selective Annotated Ellen McGrath, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect, Cynthia Cicco, Bibliography,” which was published in the Spring 1999 issue Secretary-Treasurer, and Marla Schwartz and Georgia of Law Library Journal. Ms. Tarr has asked for an extension Briscoe, Members-at-Large. Jack thanked the OBS until July 1, 2000 to continue her research for “Alternative membership for the opportunity and honor of serving them. Cataloging: Cataloging at Amazon.com Online Bookstore.” Open Discussion: Brian Striman, Incoming Chair, informed The Committee has granted the extension. No grant the members that he will investigate the merging issue as applications were received this year. requested in the survey. He wants to first review our mission New Business: statement to verify that it follows what we are currently doing in OBS. He will post information in both OBS and TS-SIS Future of Web Advisory Committee: Jack informed the lists. Alva Stone suggested that OBS be involved in creating members that Sarah Andeen is the Chair of the Web Advisory an “Automation Resources Committee” as requested in the Committee. If you are interested in working in the committee, survey. Brian Striman adjourned the meeting. please contact Sarah at
MINUTES OBS-SIS RLIN Committee
July 20, 1999 update to fix this problem; Anne will refer this to RDAG. Pat Callahan, University of Pennsylvania, chaired the meeting The 007-reproduction field should be kept blank. for Mary Chapman, New York University, who was unable Libraries using CURL and Deutsche Bibliothek records as to attend AALL this year. Robin Dale, RLG representative, well as vendor records reported them useful for order was unable to be present due to a scheduling conflict. At the purposes but not for cataloging. RLG Law Roundtable held on Saturday, July 17, R. Dale reported that RLG is involved with digitizing projects at ARA, Authority Record Assistant, is available for NACO Cornell and also plans to set up a law Web page for access libraries. It allows a heading from the bibliographic record policies and other law community-related resources. The to be used to generate a basic authority record from a ILL Manager was also demonstrated at this meeting. template. RLIN Database Advisory Group report, Anne Myers, Format of future meetings was discussed. The hour format Boston University. works well. The question of the value of meeting annually was raised. Public services staff does not demonstrate an RLG has a number of foreign databases available through interest in attending because the group is seen as one for RLIN or via Zephyr, which converts foreign MARC to technical services staff. Next year’s chair will poll for agenda USMARC on the file for display and transfer. Copies of the items before the AALL final program is printed in May; if list were distributed with a request that it also be posted to nothing is pressing, the committee meeting may be cancelled. the Web on either the RDAG or Law Web pages. Problems RLIN listservs, Web pages, and email could be used for were reported in the Eureka display of #v for the genre form. general announcements. Use of the subfield generates error reports. There were questions why there is a delay by RLG to implement the Anne Myers will be the new RLIN Committee chair. G
Technical Services Law Librarian, September, 1999 Page 17 MINUTES OBS-SIS & TS-SIS Research Roundtable
July 18, 1999 between submission and publication due Spring 1999 issue of Law Library to the collaborative editing process Journal. Chris Tarr from the University Twenty-four law librarians attended the which then takes place between the of California at Berkeley intends to use OBS/TS-SIS Research Roundtable at author and the editor. her award to travel to Seattle to tour the annual AALL conference in Amazon.com’s facilities and learn more Washington, D.C., on July 18. Ellen The group also discussed some obstacles about their cataloging techniques. Jacox McGrath from SUNY at Buffalo and to technical services oriented publishing. stated that the application process is LeGrande Fletcher from Brigham Some attendees cited lack of fairly simple, and encouraged anyone Young University coordinated the institutional support as a primary who may be interested to contact her at roundtable, which provided librarians in deterrent. Often times an institution’s
Page 18 Technical Services Law Librarian, Vol. 25, No. 1 MINUTES Technical Services SIS 1998/99 Annual Business Meeting Sunday, July 18, 1999 TS/OBS/RIPS/CS SIS Joint Reception Joe Thomas called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Mary Burgos submitted her report on the Joint Reception. Secretary/Treasurer Report: The reception was held on Membership: In September 1998, we received a total dues Saturday, July 17, 1999 from credit of $3750.00 which represented $6.00 for each of the 6:00 to 7:30 P.M. in the Grand 595 members of TS-SIS. Hyatt Hotel. Once again TS-SIS Innovative Interfaces 1998 / 99 Election Results: The election for the 1999/2000 Executive generously sponsored the Board was conducted by mail ballot. 595 ballots with reception, this year accompanying biographical information and candidate increasing their statements were mailed to members the week of March 1, contribution to $4000. This 1999. 268 ballots (45%) were returned by the deadline of year’s reception did not compete April 2, 1999. with the ALL-SIS reception and as a result, the turnout was much better than last year. Financial Status: Standing Committee Reports Balance on hand (10/1/98) $19,587.25 Acquisitions: Carmen Brigandi reported increased activity on the listserv. She also mentioned Rob Richards’ two Income Web sites for legal publishing mergers (listing who owns Exchange of Duplicates Subscriptions 1,320.00 who) and library collection development policies. Expenses posted as of 5/31/99 Cataloging & Classification: Melody Lembke, outgoing Miscellaneous Expense 125.07 chair, submitted the committee’s report. The Postage/Freight 330.06 committee’s main accomplishment was the organization Printing 408.00 of several standing subcommittees: Description and Supplies 21.08 Entry, Subject Analysis, and Administration. Another Duplicate Exchange 523.93 subcommittee has also been established to discuss the possibility of using England instead of Great Britain. Balance on hand (5/31/99) $19,499.11 The Library of Congress has asked for the law library community’s input on this question. Encumbrances Exchange of Duplicates: Joe Thomas reported for Melinda Estimated TS-SIS Share of TSLL v.24 2,814.45 Davis who was unable to attend. There are currently 42 Giveaways for TS-SIS Table 2,393.94 members of the Exchange of Duplicates Committee. ½ Joint Research Grant 180.50 Everything is now in a database rather than on paper Meeting Signs 80.91 slips. A current problem for the group is title New Brochures Printing Expenses 79.02 inconsistencies within the database. Sometimes the same item may appear more than once as different members Projected Balance on Hand as of 7/1/99 $13,950.29 use different variations of the title. Technical Services Law Librarian Preservation: Pat Turpening reminded everyone of the Preservation Program, D7: Preservation at the Linda Tesar reported on a very successful and enjoyable year Crossroads: A Debate Between the Traditional World as Co-Editor with Anna Belle Leiserson. Currently, they of Print and the Brave New World of Digital, and the still need to find columnists for “Technical Services in following roundtable . The Committee also scheduled Smaller Law Libraries,” and “Automation.” Linda also a tour Tuesday afternoon of the LC Binding facility. announced plans to celebrate TSLL’s upcoming 25th Pat presented the results of her survey regarding anniversary in the next volume. Finally, she encouraged preservation in law libraries. She received 36 responses members to contact the editors with ideas, article proposals, and will try to get more. The biggest priority for those or problems.
Technical Services Law Librarian, September, 1999 Page 19 surveyed is repairing heavily used candidates and Joe Thomas for the for non-filing characters, Proposal volumes. Finally, Sally Wambold enjoyable experience. 98-16R
Page 20 Technical Services Law Librarian, Vol. 25, No. 1 Melody Lembke. would like members to submit on the Web. We’ve discovered proposals (see RFP’s on TS-SIS home several inconsistencies between the SISAC: Joan Liu reported that SISAC page) for programs that can be held at written procedures and actual and BISAC had partially merged the annual meeting or travel around the practices. to form BASIC, an acronym for country. Book and Serials Industrial ® Exchange of Duplicates Program Communication. BASIC will Linda Tesar asked for volunteers to man – should this be handled by a study areas of interest to both the TS-SIS table in the Exhibit Hall. standing Exchange of Duplicates groups such as activities with EDI/ Joe Thomas reported that only 250 of Committee or should the standing EDIFACT message development. the current 650 TS-SIS members are committee become a subcommittee Other SISAC activities will remain subscribed to the TS-SIS listserv. He of another standing committee under SISAC’s jurisdiction. had planned to use the listserv as his such as Serials? SISAC has also established a new main avenue of communication during Binding Task Force to work on ® Member at Large duties – during his term of office but worried that not transmitting binding data as his/her second year of board all members were connected. As a EDIFACT messages. For Joan’s membership, the Member-At- result, the list will be purged early in full report, see
Technical Services Law Librarian, September, 1999 Page 21 MINUTES TS-SIS Standing Committee on Cataloging and Classification
July 19, 1999 is also available at the TS-SIS Web site. program planning for AALL One of the topics the committee is Philadelphia 2000. Aaron Kuperman Report of the Chair and Old Business: working on is the revision of AACR2R of LC suggested a program on the new to accommodate seriality. Ann invited religious law classification schedules Chair Melody Lembke opened the all present to attend the program with along with or in addition to a program meeting on Monday, July 19, at 7:05 Jean Hirons based on her paper on on religious law for non-specialists. am by introducing several sub seriality with special emphasis on loose- Aaron will propose this program. It was committees being formed. Her goal is leafs. This program will be followed also suggested that we put together to have a vehicle for continuing work by a rountable discussion. Ann also another “Cataloging a la Carte” type from year to year and for giving announced that she has a draft of the program. Reggie Wallen implored the feedback to the Library of Congress as legal serials module for the CONSER group to write well developed and needed. She asked for volunteers for manual if anyone is interested in thought out proposals. This year’s several standing sub-committees and looking at it. This was written by programs were accepted because they there were sign-up sheets available for Rhonda Lawrence and revised by Ann were good and not because there was a those interested. The several groups Sitkin and John Hostage. technical services track. She explained are: Description and Entry, Subject the process the education committee Analysis, and Administration. Some ALA MARBI committee. Our liaison goes through to select programs, concrete tasks were set for these groups. Rhonda Lawrence would like to set up stressing that they have a tight time The Subject group will be discussing a committee to give a response to schedule and need to see catchy, well the creation of a list of inherently legal MARBI discussion paper 114. Rhonda written proposals which are not full of subject headings that as yet do not have sent around a sign-up sheet for those jargon. a law and legislation subdivision with interested in this committee. The paper the end goal of making suggestions for is available on the Web at:
Page 22 Technical Services Law Librarian, Vol. 25, No. 1 The DOI (continued from page 1) The system debuted to mixed reviews environment, and specifically to at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 1997. At promote and develop the use of the The length of the number can reach 128 that time, the American Library Digital Object Identifier. The characters. Publishers can assign the Association expressed concerns over Foundation developed a set of DOI to any level of work or product. ways in which copyright law lagged principles, available from their Web Attaching a DOI to the whole does not behind the technology involved. The site, governing the use of metadata in preclude also assigning DOIs to the technology for implementing the full the DOI system. It also participates, parts. For example, a book can carry a DOI system was also lacking. Special alongside the Dublin Core and IFLA, number, as can a chapter, illustration browser plug-ins were required to use in the Interoperability of Data in E or table. the Handle© system and publishers Commerce Systems (INDECS) project. were concerned about the lack of The Directory connection between the DOI and What does this mean for us? The ability existing ISBN, ISSN and ISWC to track locations of data on the Web The directory works, in effect, as a numbering systems. Ann Leer, strategic and to have sets of metadata and router. Holding all the DOI numbers planning advisor for Oxford Interactive copyright information available are of and the address of the server maintained Learning at OUP, described the system great value to catalogers, but the DOI by the publisher, it serves as an as “a Dis-Organized Idea, albeit a good is also broadly defined as a tool for intermediary between the user and the one.” electronic commerce. As information rights-holder. When a publisher moves, becomes a commodity traded and sold changes servers, or sells rights, the new In the last two years, there has been via the Internet, publishers will develop location is updated in the directory, but much formalization of the DOI systems such as the DOI for supporting the number remains the same, always initiative. An international foundation these transactions as well as attached to the same content. has been formed to provide support for maintaining a record of copyright. Our further work. The Foundation exists to methods of acquiring and providing This sounds similar to the Persistent support the needs of the intellectual access to it will need to keep pace and URL (PURL) system developed by property community in the digital evolve as well. G OCLC. The directory is based on a similar system, Handles©, developed For More Information: by the Corporation for National Research Initiatives (CNRI). Both DOI Homepage systems perform single point
Technical Services Law Librarian, September, 1999 Page 23 Joe Thomas, Notre Dame A Guide to Library Technical Terms [email protected] What it sounds like: What it is: Retrospective conversion A post-mortem religious experience Changing existing card catalog records to online records Z39.50 (Z39 dot 50) An annoying robotic side-kick in a A protocol that allows a search in one library’s cheesy science fiction movie catalog to be carried out in other catalogs Reference interview Touch-and-go conversation between a Touch-and-go conversation between potential employer and your current boss a reference librarian and a patron OPAC Organization of Petroleum Absorbing Online Public Access Catalog Countries Circulation override Access Services staff heading out on Allowing items which usually don’t horseback to track down delinquencies circulate to do so Electronic dissemination Process by which Microsoft Publishing without paper and intends to take over the universe distributing via computers CONSER Nefarious government body An international cooperative serials cataloging program Serial Misspelled breakfast food A publication which is intended to keep on publishing Bibliographic entity A ghost haunting the library Anything that can be described in a cataloging record (including a ghost haunting the library) Monograph A scholarly presentation of profoundly A book important ideasrepresenting an original direction within a particular discipline, or across several discipline
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