LRTS 60(2) 89 Cataloging and metadata operations in academic libraries are focusing on original cataloging of their unique and hidden collections that have not been available to users because of a lack of metadata. However, creating MARC format metadata is an expensive process; libraries need professional catalogers with appropriate experience and knowledge or must train staff to do the work. To improve the cataloging and metadata creation workflow, the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign Library developed a web application, Metadata Maker, which allows anyone to create metadata in four different formats, including MARC21 for an online public access catalog, regardless of their familiarity with metadata standards or systems that utilize the metadata. Released as an open source application, Metadata Maker supports diacritics and Unicode non-Roman language encoding, and creates metadata records that ensure discovery and access of unique library collections.A s more resources purchased by libraries come with vendor provided cataloging records or via other libraries through cooperative cataloging initiatives, cataloging and metadata operations in academic libraries are focusing on processing more unique materials and hidden collections that have not been available to users because of a lack of metadata. To provide metadata, libraries generally employ professional catalogers with subject knowledge and appropriate cataloging experience to make these hidden and possibly valuable library collections searchable and discoverable in a timely manner. Recent budgetary issues and a shift in library priorities led to these positions being downsized or eliminated, and libraries must find alternatives to facilitate metadata creation.1 At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Library, the loss of professional cataloging positions due to retirements and the increasing volume of resources that need catalog records has imposed a change in cataloging workflows that rely on temporary staff with little to no experience in metadata creation. While the UIUC Library has worked to train these staff to create metadata in MARC format and to use appropriate cataloging software, such as integrated library systems and shared cataloging systems (e.g., OCLC's Connexion), this training is an intensive and time-consuming process. Because of the temporary nature of many of these staff members, the professional catalogers are in a constant state of training new employees, monitoring their work, and providing appropriate feedback to protect (2) metadata quality. Another option that libraries may consider is the outsourcing of cataloging work to vendors, but that also incurs a substantial cost to accomplish the task.To improve the productivity of their cataloging and metadata creation workflow, the UIUC Library sought to develop a web application, Metadata Maker, that would allow anyone to create metadata in various formats, regardless of their familiarity with metadata standards or systems that utilize the metadata.2 With inform...
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