Cataloging-from-Scans Project
Special Projects
At the beginning of the pandemic, cataloging staff were sent home to work. This meant they were unable to access the material for cataloging. Although some electronic resources were identified for work-from-home projects, the cataloging teams were concerned about backlogs piling up of newly acquired physical materials. To address backlogs across the library, library staff devised numerous workflows that required working across units. This was exponentially more challenging with many parties working remotely, so all the workflows required asynchronous handoffs.
One workflow was created between Technical Services and Hollander Make Central. While working from home, Nicole and Tyler Smeltekop identified that their units could work closely to solve the problems of catalogers needing scans and Hollander Make Central needing student projects to keep students employed. They passed the idea to their supervisors, and Joshua Barton, Autumn Faulkner, Lisa Smith, Jessica Wagner, and Kristina Jones coordinated a workflow. Using the large shifting book trucks, the Acquisitions unit placed material for cataloging on a cart. Kristina Jones and her team then brought the cart up to Make Central for scanning. The heads of Cataloging and Copy Cataloging (Joshua Barton and Autumn Faulkner) created guidelines for students specifying what parts of the books needed scanning to effectively catalog material. After scanning, the digital images were placed in a shared folder and the books were routed back to Technical Services for further processing. Copy Catalogers then accessed the material remotely for cataloging. If material needed original cataloging, Mike Erickson worked to create original records remotely. Through this work, the entire copy cataloging staff remained busy with meaningful work that kept the Technical Services backlogs at manageable levels throughout the pandemic.
Another workflow of note was created for Special Collections cataloging. Since Special Collections material requires more care, Autumn Faulkner and Tad Boehmer devised a scanning workflow that efficiently employed space in the 3E space to organize material for scanning. To best maintain consistency, two collections were slated for scanning, the popular title book collection of Jack Davis and Japanese language material including cookbooks and comics. Selecting two different material scopes allowed for original, copy and specialized cataloging to take place. SPC selectors added material to the relevant shelves on 3E, and Autumn and Tad oversaw the student scanning and digital imaging. Through this process, Special Collections material was also able to be cataloged remotely throughout the pandemic.
Because of this work across units of the library, patrons across campus and beyond continued to have access to new acquisitions, both in the main collection and Special Collections throughout the pandemic. Cataloging and Copy Cataloging staff were also able to continue to safely work from home and make effective use of scans done by others. Hollander Make Central was able to give student employees valuable working hours when the building was no longer open to the public. These workflows demonstrate the libraries’ flexibility, resourcefulness, and collegiality when faced with unprecedented challenges.
Cataloging-from-Scans Project
Cataloging:
- Joshua Barton
- Autumn Faulkner
- Tad Boehmer
- Cathy Illman
- Vicki Walker
- Tina Andrews
- Mike Erickson
- Nicole Smeltekop
- Student workers:
- Jenny Chau
- Brooklyn Bowman
- Autumn Tyner
- Liam Grose
- Lizzy Warfield
Acquisitions:
- Lisa Smith
- Kim Wiljanen
Creative Solutions Center:
- Kristina Jones
- Tyler Smeltekop
- Student workers:
- Kyli Denny
- Audrey Anton
- Braxton Hay
- Max Garrison
- Austin Webb
- Conner Wilson
- Cameron Crawford
- Rosa Olivares