Workshops at NASIG 2024

Unlike my usual disarrayed self at various conferences, I was laser-sharp focused at the 39th NASIG conference on the following four topics:

1. LCSH and other LC Vocabulary (June 4, 9:00-10:00 am) by Melanie Polutta, Cataloging Policy specialist at Policy, Training & Cooperative Division of Library of Congress (LC). The first half of her workshop looked at the basics of what is LC subject heading (LCSH), and how to make a proposal for a new subject heading. LCSH was used primarily to describe what was in the library.

The second half examined the current development of the controlled vocabularies. She also discussed ongoing DEI work and thoughts about the vocabularies going forward. It seemed that there would be less use of subdivisions, or form (e.g., Juvenile literature), but more post-coordination. The trend would be putting business into their categories, formal headings to genre headings.

2. Two workshops on ChatGPT

a. Transforming Library Data Analytics into Strategic Insights with ChatGPT (June 4, 2:45-3:45 pm) by Marlene van Ballegooie of University of Toronto. It centered on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing library data analytics by gaining practical experience of how AI could be utilized in library collection analysis, and by discovering how AI facilitated comprehensive data exploration and the creation of insightful visualizations of improved decision-making. It provided practical lesson in applying AI in library collection analysis, and equipping participants to adopt similar technologies in their home institutions. 

b. Using ChatGPT as a tool for the acquisition and assessment of e-resources (June 7, 9:00-10:00 am) by Amanda Yesilbas of University of South Florida. The learning outcomes aimed at: 1) What the interface of ChatGPT looks like and how to begin using it. 2) What training ChatGPT is and how to do it. 3) How to do complex spreadsheet operations with simple conversational prompts. 4) How to create visual spreadsheet data with simple prompts. 5) How to create executive summaries with simple prompts. 6) The potential pitfalls of using an AI tool. 7) How AI tools were just another stop on a technological timeline. Personally, I could not help but agree with Amanda's conclusion that working with AI tools was like chasing a moving target.

3. Cataloging

a. Introduction to Serials Cataloging Part I and Part II (June 5-6, 9:00-12:00 pm) by Steve Shadle of University of Washington Libraries (UWL). Two workshops provided the basic principles of original and copy cataloging of print serials with a focus on the elements contained in the RDA CONSER Standard Record (CSR). The specific goals were to understand the concept of continuing resources, identify serials and distinguish them from monographs and integrating resources, become familiar with MARC tags used for serials, creating original serials cataloging records, and how to identify appropriate serial copy ad needed edits.

Personally I felt deeply indebted to Shadle, head of Serials Cataloging at UWL, for his wealth of knowledge and experience. For the first time, I obtained a systematic training and reconfirmation from Dody's tutoring more than two decades ago.

b. You Want Me to Catalog What? Practical strategies for cataloging insensitive/offensive material (June 5, 1:30-2:30 pm) by Mandy Hurt, Serials Description Librarian and Coordinator at Duke University Libraries. As an experienced CONSER serials cataloger who worked extensively with special collections materials that deem sexually explicit, or offensive by hate groups such as Ku Klux Klan and American Nazi organizations, Mandy developed a healthy coping mechanism to protect herself, family and colleagues. One of the strategies was to catalog one item per day.

4. Workshops on BIBFRAME & Linked Data (June 6, 4:00-5:00 pm)

a. BIBFRAME at the Doorstep by Lisa McColl, manager, and Gregory Edwards, Metadata Services librarian at Lehigh Library. It showed how a mid-sized academic library defined the pros and cons of BIBFRAME adoption and its early stage of life. It provided a concrete vision of how it looked to catalog in BIBFRAME, and how MARC data could be cleaned to benefit our users and facilitate possible future conversion. 

b. Library Barbie and the Real World presented by Regina Romano Reynolds, director of U.S. ISSN Center at Library of Congress. It demonstrated our catalogs and discovery systems were in a closed or open environment. It also helped us to understand that MARC could be enhanced by linked data, with real-life examples of linked data's use in both MARC and non-MARC systems. Regina was a great presenter, reminding me of our Alverda.