Library projects

MARC 21 Metadata for free web resources in the library catalogue

The library has developed a distributed model for resource description of free web resources. It is a collaborative effort by the Information Resources and Systems Divisions in the library. The new approach aims to provide access to free web resources more quickly, in greater numbers and less cost through the library catalogue. Library staff select resources and create the metadata record via a web input form which is then converted to a MARC record via a Perl program. The brief record is available in the library catalogue within 5 minutes. A review function to monitor quality of the data input is also provided as part of this process. Prior to implementation a trial to test the toolset and process was conducted with a small focus group (August 2002). A report on the findings and recommendations was made available. Fast Cat was launched at the Library's Information Day on 5 February 2003.

Relevant documents:

• Web Input Form for Fast Cat, library staff only (on the intranet)
  • Input guidelines, library staff only (on the intranet)
  • Linking to web resources, library staff only (on the intranet)
  • Selection criteria

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