From Many, One: Building the Catamount Library Network Catalog

NETSL Conference 2014Lightning TalkBy Tom McMurdo,Vermont Department of Libraries

In some ways Vermont is like the wild west.

• Almost no direct funding of local libraries by the state.

• Local interest takes precedence.

• Multi-library cooperation is limited.

The Catamount Library Network (CLN) began with high ambitions:

• Multi-library shared catalog.

• 1st consortium in Vermont with user-generated holds and shared policies across libraries.

The Vermont Department of Libraries (VTLIB) was big part of the team that created the CLN and we act as consultants to the CLN Board of Directors. This is an ongoing commitment.

• VTLIB staff consult daily with CLN libraries.

• VTLIB wanted to start a democratic, member-driven consortium in VT with user-initiated holds and shared policies across libraries.

Shared policies means surrendering local control to the organization as a whole.

• Fines are the same across libraries.

• Circulation times for items are the same – except for items that only circulate locally.

User-initiated holds are a big step in Vermont, as no one has done this for a multi-library consortium.• Fears about small libraries collection-

raiding large libraries.• Concerns about increased transit costs.• But the library directors were willing to

try.

The CLN directors were on board, but we needed buy-in from catalogers and other staff at the member libraries.

• What strategies would work?

We chose Basecamp as our project management software based on my experiences with previous projects.• Wiki-type

discussion board.• In-depth

discussion of issues apart from meetings.

• A means of inclusion for new members.

I asked that each library provide a “supercataloger” who is responsible for all cataloging at their library. • Single point of

responsibility for each library.

I also started the CLN Catalogers Group - a group that meets monthly, frequently online.

• Catalogers have their own space for specific issues.

• Separate from the Board of Directors.

After a few months of me leading the Catalogers Group, I asked that one of the catalogers take over as leader.

• This was the big step.

• Made the group independent.

• Now led by Jill Chase, Cataloger at Waterbury Public Library.

CLNCatalogers Group

The Catalogers Group recently took on a big issue: how to deduplicate the CLN catalog.

• The catalog has as many as 36,000 bib records that have duplicates in the catalog.

Koha matching based on ISBN is limited to a single number, either 10 or 13 digit. Parenthetical information in the 020 field can prevent matches.• This weak matching causes duplication when adding records from a new library.

• Consequently, the CLN catalog accumulated duplicates as we added libraries.

The Catalogers Group reviewed the options, debated the potential ramifications of each, and made a clear recommendation to the CLN Board: hire a person to deduplicate the catalog part time.

• The other choices: an automated deduplication or an expensive one-time full-catalog processing. Each has serious drawbacks.

The Catamount Board of Directors accepted the recommendation of the Catalogers Group for deduplication.

Yes.

With a member cataloger at the helm, and with me acting as consultant, the Catalogers Group is now a strong, independent part of the CLN. • These things

achieved the buy-in I hoped for at the beginning.

• Still a young organization, but off to a good start.

Democracy Works!

For more information about the Catamount Library Network, visit the CLN website: http://www.catamountlibraries.org/

Feel free to contact me with questions: thomas.mcmurdo@state.vt.us