The Massachusetts Library System is pleased to announce that we have contracted with ALA to provide our members with access to their live webinars.  These webinars are free to MLS members who register through our calendar.  Please do not register directly with ALA. Members who register directly with ALA are responsible for paying their registration fee. 

Please help us keep MLS sponsored training free for all members. If you are unable to attend the live webinar, please cancel your registration. A cancellation link can be found in your confirmation email, or you may contact Sarah Donnelly at sdonnelly@masslibsystem.org to cancel. 

Description

Beginning in Fall 2021, Emory Libraries began collaboration with Backstage Library Works to test an automated process of converting Library of Congress Subject headings to Homosaurus terms. The project aimed to evaluate the results of the Backstage conversion process, to discuss how useful retroactive addition of Homosaurus terms will be for Emory users by enhancing the discoverability of LGBTQ resources, and to offer recommendations for a sustainable, ongoing process of adding Homosaurus terms to bibliographic records. Assessment of the conversion was conducted by a diverse team of volunteer librarians and PhD students whose experience contributed perspectives from technical services, user services, subject matter practitioners, and collection development. After implementation it became clear that additional changes to the automated process and ongoing maintenance of the crosswalk were required to ensure meaningful automated application of Homosaurus terms.

This webinar will introduce details of the conversion evaluation process, describe the testing and assessment methods of the conversion results, outline the proposed recommendations for the process implementation and other possible strategies of retroactive addition of Homosaurus terms to bibliographic records. It will also cover post implementation review and ongoing maintenance required for this type of project. Though this project is limited to Homosaurus, the same strategies could be applied to implementing other alternative subject vocabularies.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the webinar, attendees will be able to:

• Design a workflow to assess quality of retrospective automated conversion of Library of Congress subject terms to other vocabulary;
• Develop strategies for retroactive subject enhancement of bibliographic records in specific subject areas or for specific populations; and
• Develop and lead a multidisciplinary team in evaluating the results of a conversion and metadata suitability, in general.

Who Should Attend

Catalogers, metadata professionals, and technical services managers.

Presenters

Brinna Michael (they/them) is the Visual Resources Metadata Librarian at Cornell University Library. Their professional interests include reparative description, metadata consultation and education, metadata in the digital humanities, and digital access to visual materials. Michael has an MS in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a BA in Classical Civilizations from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Sofia Slutskaya (she/her) is the Head of Resource Description at Emory University Woodruff Library. Over the years, Sofia has held a variety of positions in both public and technical services. Her research interests include staff training, cataloging print and electronic materials, e-resource management, and e-book acquisitions.

Accessibility Information

If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100.