Will MARC survive ELAG 2011?

In two weeks time, the European Library Automation Group (ELAG) 2011 conference will be over.  After almost a year of planning and monthly conference calls, I can’t believe that it is almost here!

Hosted by the National Technical Library (Národní technická knihova) in Prague and with over 150 participants already registered, if it is anything like ELAG 2010, it will be an exciting event.  ELAG is an annual conference (this one is the 35th!) made up of pre-conference workshops, a series of presentations and the opportunity to take part in one of the ten workshops that run throughout the conference.

Prof. Dr. Harald Reiterer will open the conference where he will talk about the concept of Blended Libraries, which interesting for a library technology conference, explores the information seeking processes in the physical library of the future.  As is to be expected, other key topics include linked data, cloud computing and the semantic web (including the Europeana Data Model for libraries).

I am most nervous about my own workshop asking whether MARC must die?  With 18 participants registered and a nice mixture of hard-core cataloguers and library software developers, I’m left wondering if I, or indeed MARC, will survive ELAG 2011?

We’d love you to join us (and there is still a few days left to register), but if you can’t you can always follow #elag2011 on Twitter.

National Technical Library, Prague, Czech Republic, Main Hall

Cataloguing *is* important!

As a ‘metadata aggregator’ (and former cataloguer) the importance of cataloguing is to me self evident.  However, even in the library community, I know that this feeling is not shared by all.  That being said, the high attendance at IFLA’s Cataloguing session was very encouraging to see. Chaired by Anders Cato, Chair of the IFLA Standing Committee on cataloguing, the session was kicked-off by Hanne Hørl Hansen, who gave a presentation about the innovative way that relator codes are being used in Denmark. Inspired by an early (and later revised) draft of the Resource Description and Access (RDA), this methodology has been in place within the Danish cataloguing code for more than 12 months. So far, she has received no complaints from users, librarians or publishers.  Despite some concerns voiced from the authority control community in the audience, Hansen highlighted that the benefits of the Danish method include the flexibility of displaying the data, the possibility for cooperation beyond the library community and the potential for participation in the semantic web.  To me, three good benefits for considering such an approach further.  Frank Förster was the next presenter to take to the stage.  Förster preferred to give his paper in German, which unfortunately left many of the audience (including me) unprepared with the appropriate headsets to listen to the simultaneous translation.  Even so, my school girl knowledge of German enabled me to feel that Förster gave an entertaining and informative presentation about how the Swedish translation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness can be placed within a wider context of related cultural heritage items using FRBRoo (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records Object Orientated).  The final scheduled presentation was given by Jan Pisanski about the need for the library world (and beyond) to use internationally recognised global identifiers.  Noting the importance of using authority records to contextualise bibliographic information for users (and librarians), Pisanski went on to explain that currently, internationally recognised identifiers are either missing, underused or inconsistently used within the library world. He concluded that when it comes to identifiers ‘something is better than nothing’.  However, in the library community, we need ‘as accurate and extensive use of existing identifiers as possible’ and therefore need to raise awareness about the importance of using identifiers with our colleagues. Unfortunately the final presenter of the session, ‘Mabafokeng Makara, was unable to attend, which led to a wonderful opportunity for an impromptu presentation from Barbara Tillett about the current status and next steps for the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF).   As an IFLA first-timer this was a great first introduction to the activities of IFLA’s Cataloguing Section.  The closing words of the session were from Anders Cato to remind delegates about the Libraries and the Semantic Web session, which will take place on Sunday 15 August 2010 at 08:30 – 12:45 in Rooms F4-6. Definitely not a session to be missed!

First-timers walk this way

Being an IFLA conference virgin, I decided that the new-comers’ session would be an important session for me.   Moderated by Josche Ouwerkerk and Federica Marangio from IFLA Headquarters this was a lively session intended to offer ‘a brief and informal introduction to various aspects of the congress and to IFLA.’  We were welcomed to the session by Jennefer Nicholson IFLA’s Secretary General, who advised us not to worry, as even Ellen Tise, IFLA’s president was a first timer once! Jesús Lau, member of the IFLA’s Governing Board, told us about his ‘IFLA career’ which began by attending the IFLA conference as a student in 1987. His best advice whilst at the IFLA conference; ‘talk to 10 unknown librarians every day’!  A lively talk was given by Buhle Mbambo-Thata, a member of IFLA’s Professional Committee.  The most important skills that she has learned at IFLA conferences is to speak slowly.  This is especially important for IFLA’s simultaneous interpreters who translate the conference sessions into IFLA’s 7 working languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Russian and Spanish).   Loida Garcia-Febo Secretary of the FAIFE (Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression) Committee, rocked IFLA by moving from Abba to Aerosmith.  She turned her smart phone on the participants to tell us about the social networking activities that are happening at IFLA 2010. Participants can use Twitter, add their photos to Flickr and upload their films to YouTube.  If you do, don’t forget to use the #ifla2010 hash tag! There were many more stories shared during the session, including Chiara Consonni, winner of the IFLA LIS Student Paper Award 2010, Federica Marangio telling us about the IFLA New Professionals’ Special Interest Group and Danielle Mincio telling us about IFLA’s work with supporting colleagues in Haiti following the earthquake.  Librarian volunteers are needed in Haiti with a wide range of skills.  The session was rounded off with a Swedish lesson; we learnt the most important three words in the Swedish language: hej (hi), tack (thank you) and skål (cheers).  And being newcomers we were given a special ’first timer’ ribbon to wear, which I will wear with confidence this year as I know that I will never be a first-timer again…

Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression

Welcome to Göteborg: the city of the Volvo (and IFLA 2010)

This morning I arrived into Gothenburg (Götenburg) to participate in my first IFLA conference.  Arriving at the airport after being welcomed by the official IFLA welcoming committee stationed at the airport, I was welcomed by Volvo!  Being a bad librarian, I hadn’t found out in advance that Gothenburg is the city of the Volvo. However, now I know!  The Volvo museum is open every day in July and August (take tram 5, 6 or 10 to Eketrägatan, Hisingen. Change to bus 32 towards Volvo Torslanda (via Arendal). Bus stop: Arendal Skans.)  I don’t know if I will have the chance to visit the museum, but thought that I would share this information, just in case you want to…

Linked data and libraries

On 21st July, I attend the Linked data and libraries event organised by Talis at the British Library.  For those who weren’t able to attend, Talis have set up an almost like being there web page including videos and presentation slides of the event.  For those of you who are interested, you can see Bibliotheekmeisje in action talking about the Europeana Data Model, Europeana’s new cross-domain framework for collecting, connecting and enriching metadata.

Preparing for IFLA

Whilst watching Episode 15 of This Week in Libraries Stuart Hamilton, Senior Policy Adviser at IFLA HQ, told that IFLA 2010 will be more social media orientated.  As I will be attending the IFLA conference for the first time next week, I thought that it was time for me to start blogging.

For those who can’t attend, you can follow the IFLA 2010 conference as it happens. Or if you are attending you can sign up to become an official IFLA 2010 blogger.